South Korean economy hit speed bump in Q4, central bank sees 3% 2018 growth

Published Wed, Mar 28, 2018 · 02:28 AM

[SEOUL] South Korea's economy marked its worst quarterly performance since 2008 in October-December as weakness in car exports and construction overshadowed strength in consumption and public spending, revised central bank data showed on Wednesday.

Gross domestic product declined 0.2 per cent in the fourth quarter, matching advance estimates.

That compared to a revised 1.5 per cent rise in the third quarter of 2017 and was a big step down from the blistering pace seen in the first half of last year.

Construction investment fell by 2.3 per cent on-quarter, while private spending and government expenditure increased 1.0 per cent and 0.5 per cent from three months earlier, respectively.

From a year earlier, South Korea's economy grew 2.8 per cent in the October-December period, the Bank of Korea data showed, missing the advance estimate of 3 per cent.

The result is a disappointment for the bank, which raised its base rate by 25 basis points in November, the first tightening in six years.

Inflation will have to pick up considerably before the central bank takes policy interest rates higher.

The Bank of Korea left its key interest rate unchanged in February, as expected, noting muted inflationary pressures and showing caution amid fears of a global trade war.

The bank expects the economy to expand by 3 per cent this year, but that estimate is subject to global demand for South Korean memory chips and other manufactured goods in the face of a feared trade war between the United States and China.

"Domestic demand will probably shine this year and exports will continue their moderate growth," said Lee Sang Jae, economist at Eugene Investment and Securities, noting that increased public spending to create jobs should boost private consumption.

The revised data showed the economy grew by 3.1 per cent over the whole of last year, the fastest expansion since it grew 3.3 per cent in 2014.

REUTERS

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