SEOUL Quenton Nelson Black Jersey , Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's industrial output posted a first contraction in three months, reflecting the lackluster growth of the economy, a government report showed Tuesday. Retail sales grew Le'Raven Clark Camo Jersey , indicating a recovery in consumer confidence.
Production in all industries decreased 0.6 percent in August from a month earlier, the first decline in three months, according to Statistics Korea. The gauge for industrial activity retreated 1 percent in May before rising 2.3 percent in June and 0.3 percent in July respectively.
Output in construction Ryan Kelly Camo Jersey , service and public administration sectors increased 1 percent, 0.3 percent and 7.2 percent each on a monthly basis.
Production in the mining and manufacturing industry tumbled 3. 8 percent, marking the biggest monthly fall since it plunged 10.5 percent in December 2008 when the global financial crisis sapped global demand.
Production among manufacturers declined 3.8 percent in August from a month earlier due to a double-digit drop in production of automakers and transport equipment manufacturers.
Some major automakers here went on a partial strike last month Nyheim Hines Camo Jersey , contributing to an output reduction in the auto industry. Summer vacation and rainfall disrupted last month's auto production.
"Industrial output declined on weaker exports and lower motor vehicle production, as production was suspended for the summer vacation period, which occurred mostly from Aug. 4-8 this year Henry Anderson Camo Jersey , later in the year than July 29-Aug. 2 in 2013," said Kwon Young- sun, a senior economist at Nomura International in Hong Kong.
Kwon expected the Bank of Korea (BOK) to cut its policy rate by 25 basis points to an all-time low of 2 percent at the Oct. 15 policy meeting. The central bank lowered the base rate by a quarter percentage point to 2.25 percent in August.
Private consumption showed signs of getting back on a recovery track. Retail sales climbed 2.7 percent in August T.J. Green Camo Jersey , marking the highest monthly growth since May 2011 when it recorded a 3.4- percent expansion.
The April ferry sinking disaster, which killed more than 300 people, dampened sentiment among economic agents as deep grief swept over the country. Consumers refrained from travel and entertainment to mourn the deaths of teenagers.
The service industry Marlon Mack Camo Jersey , which was hit hardest by the maritime accident, gained 0.3 percent in August from a month ago. Production in the culture, sports and leisure sector declined 5 percent Tarell Basham Camo Jersey , but those for the wholesale & retail, education and healthcare & social welfare sectors increased 1.3 percent, 2.5 percent and 2 percent each.
The cyclical component of leading economic indicators Quincy Wilson Camo Jersey , which reflects outlook for future business conditions, rose 0.8 point to 102.4 last month. The figure for coincident economic indicators added 0.3 point to 100.5.
Facility investment dropped 10.6 percent in August, marking the biggest monthly reduction since it plunged 16.1 percent in January 2003. The still sour investment among companies indicated lackluster corporate sentiment.
The value of construction completed at a constant price climbed 1 percent in August after falling 1.5 percent in the prior month. Construction orders at a current price jumped 57.8 percent last month on a monthly basis.
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by Larry Neild
LONDON, June 14 (Xinhua) -- In the biggest united front seen so far in Britain's big European referendum battle, trade union leaders and medical colleges joined forces Tuesday.
They issued an unprecedented warning on the impact of Britain leaving Europe in a national vote on June 23.
With just over a week before a national referendum, the ""Remain"" side went into overdrive to win support, with professors and leading medics adding their voices by offering a real tonic.
Just 24 hours after the latest opinion polls Monday showed the ""Leave"" side was racing ahead, the ""Remain"" side needed that tonic.
Union leaders representing six million public sector employees, from National Health Service (NHS) staff to teachers and local council workers, joined professors and health experts to urge Britons to vote to stay in the European Union (EU) on June 23.
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) also warned of the threat to public sector jobs if Britain leaves the EU, saying its analysis showed the NHS budget could be slashed by a quarter by 2020.
As Labour politicians from the Remain camp warned of more than half a million public sector job losses, 60 former heads of the British Medical Association (BMA) joined with medical colleges to claim a Brexit win would threaten the NHS's future.
The list of signatories in an open letter to the British public read like a ""Who's who"" of academia, science and medicine, with dozens of professors and top doctors adding their signatures.
The medical world wrote: ""We write as former presidents and chairs of the UK's medical royal colleges and in the British Medical Association to set out why, if we care about the future of the NHS, we should remain in the EU.""
""Rather than ruining the NHS, as some have claimed, immigrants play a large part in running it. Without the 10 percent of doctors and 5 percent of nurses who come from other EU countries, not to mention even larger numbers of care workers, the NHS would face severe staff shortages. It is Brexit that is the threat to the NHS, not our membership of the EU.""
Twelve trade union leaders, including TUC General-Secretary Frances O'Grady and Unite General-Secretary Len McCluskey, said: ""Right now, we're worried. Worried that the UK will vote to leave the European Union, and that will be a disaster for working people. With the UK worse off, the NHS will suffer too. There will be less money to fund nurses, midwives and hospitals.""