SEOUL, March 4 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's industrial output turned downward in January due to adjustments in semiconductor production, statistical ministry data showed Wednesday.
The seasonally-adjusted index of all industry production, which excludes the agriculture, livestock and fishery sector, fell 1.3 percent in January from a month earlier after growing 0.7 percent in November and 1.0 percent in December last year, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics.
The downturn was attributed to production adjustments of semiconductors, of which the output declined 4.4 percent in January on a monthly basis to mark the first reduction in three months.
Output among manufacturers retreated 2.1 percent in January compared with the previous month, while the service industry's production was unchanged.
Production in the construction industry dropped 11.3 percent, but output in the public administration sector swelled 1.2 percent.
The retail sale index, which reflects private consumption, gained 2.3 percent in January on a monthly basis, keeping an upward trend for the second straight month.
Facility investment expanded 6.8 percent, but completed construction plunged 11.3 percent in January, marking the fastest reduction in 14 years since January 2012.
The cyclical variation factor for leading economic indicators, which gauges the outlook for future economic situations, added 0.7 points to 102.3 in January compared to the previous month.
The reading for coincident economic indicators, which measures the current economic condition, stood unchanged at 99.0 in the cited month. ■