◀ Anchor ▶
As vaccination began and export conditions improved, the consumer sentiment index returned to pre-COVID-19 levels.
It is expected to increase further when distance distancing is eased, but the inflation outlook index and the interest rate outlook index also jumped.
This is reporter Noh Kyung-jin.
◀ Report ▶
Consumer sentiment has returned to pre-COVID-19 levels.
As vaccination began and export conditions improved, consumer sentiment improved for three consecutive months.
According to the March Consumer Trends Survey by the Bank of Korea, the consumer sentiment index for March was 100.5, up 3.1 points from a month ago.
As the index rose for three consecutive months, it exceeded the threshold of 100 for the first time since the index of 104.8 in January last year, when Corona 19 began to spread.
A BOK official said, “Of the six indices used to calculate the consumer sentiment index, the remaining five indices after subtracting the household income forecast index were all close to 100.”
He also said, “If the social distancing stage eases, the sentiment to consume more immediately is in an increased mood.”
Although not included in the consumer sentiment index, the housing price outlook index fell 5 points in a month and continued to decline for three consecutive months.
A BOK official said, “The government announced plans to promote new public housing sites, which weakened expectations for a rise in house prices.”
The price level outlook index and the current household debt index rose by 2 points to 146 and 104, respectively.
The interest rate level outlook index rose 10 points in a month to 114, the largest since December 2016 in terms of the extent of the increase.
This is Kyungjin Noh, MBC News.
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