Economic Bulletin | KDI 경제교육·정보센터

KDI 경제교육·정보센터

Economic Information and Education Center

발행물

Economic Trends

The Green Book: Monthly Economic Trends

Executive Summary Industrial production was up 11.6 percent on-year in March as semiconductor, audio-visual and telecommunication equipment, and motor vehicle output increased despite a decline in textile and office/computing equipment output. Wholesale and retail sales increased 0.9 percent on-year in March because metallic mineral, primary metal product, electrical/communications equipment and pharmaceutical sales increased. Facility investment decreased 6.8 percent on-year in March due largely to a decrease in general purpose industrial machinery and automobile investments. Exports surged 38.3 percent on-year to US$21.74 billion in April, led by a strong export performance by such items as automobiles, semiconductors, wireless telecommunication devices, and computers on the strength of an economic recovery in major export markets including the U.S. and Japan. Imports also increased 27.6 percent on-year in April to US$18.83 billion to record growth in the 20 percent range for three straight months. Consumer prices remain unchanged from the previous month in April as an increase in individual service costs offset a decline in agricultural, fishery, livestock and public service costs. The unemployment rate decreased 0.1 percentage point on-month to 3.8 percent in March as recently graduated college and high school students found jobs and the demand for workers in the agricultural, forestry, fishery, and construction sectors increased. Long-term interest rates, including those on the benchmark three-year government bonds, fell from 4.50 percent at the end of March to finish April at 4.43 percent. The KOSPI declined due to investors selling of domestic shares for profit taking and remarks by the Chinese Prime Minister suggesting a belt-tightening policy, after reaching a yearly high in mid-April. The KOSPI fell 17.66 points or 2 percent since the end of March to finish April at 862.84 points. * For further details, please refer to the attached file

May 2004