KOREAN NET

Statistics Korea on March 31 said in a report that domestic production, consumption and investment in multiple sectors rose last month from January. Shown is First Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Park Sung-Taek (right) on March 28 inspecting cars to be exported at the Port of Pyeongtaek in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do Province. (Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy)

By Lee Dasom

Domestic production, consumption and investment in multiple industries last month rose from January.

Statistics Korea on March 31 in a report on February industrial activity said overall industrial output in sectors such as services, mining and manufacturing, and construction inched up 0.6%.

Mining and manufacturing grew 1%. Output of primary metals declined 4.6%, but that of electronic components (9.1%) and electronic equipment (6%) rose.

The service industry saw production rise 0.5% as wholesale and retail jumped 6.5% and finance and insurance rose 2.3%.

Retail sales rose 1.5% from January, with those of nondurable goods such as food and beverages dipping 2.5% and those of semi-durable goods like shoes and bags declining 1.7%. But durable goods such as telecommunication devices and computers saw sales rise 13.2%.

Facility investment rose 18.7% thanks to 23.3% growth of that in machines including machinery for semiconductor production, while that in transportation gears such as vehicles rose 7.4%.

Construction performance declined 2.2% in architecture but rose 13.1% in civil engineering, thus the sector saw overall growth of 1.5%.

dlektha03119@korea