S. Korea's GDP growth slows to 0.3 pct in Q3

SEOUL, Dec 1 (Bernama) -- South Korea's gross domestic product (GDP) growth slowed in the third quarter compared to the previous quarter amid the faster increase in import than export, central bank data showed Thursday.

The revised real GDP, adjusted for inflation, expanded 0.3 per cent in the July-September quarter from three months earlier, down from the 0.6 per cent in the first quarter and 0.7 per cent in the second quarter each, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK).

Xinhua reported the country's export gained 1.1 per cent in the third quarter on a quarterly basis, while import advanced 6.0 per cent on higher energy import cost.

The outbound shipment was forecast to decline in the fourth quarter. The exports plunged 14.0 per cent in November, after sliding 5.7 per cent in October.

Private consumption grew 1.7 per cent during the July-September quarter as the eased measures against the COVID-19 pandemic raised the demand for eatery and lodging services and semi-durable goods for outside activities.

Facility investment jumped 7.9 per cent on solid demand for semiconductor and transport equipment, but investment in the construction sector reduced 0.2 per cent on the faltering engineering construction.

Real gross national income (GNI), which measures the total income earned at home and abroad by businesses and people, retreated 0.7 per cent in the third quarter.

The GDP deflator, or the ratio of nominal GDP to real GDP to gauge the price change for all the goods and services produced in the country, was up 0.2 per cent during the cited quarter.

-- BERNAMA