In December 2024, the retail sales of the service sector grew by around 42 percent compared to the same month a year ago. It was followed by the food sector with its YoY growth of about 8 percent.

In December 2024, consumer prices in South Korea had increased by about 1.9 percent compared to the same month of the previous year. Consumer price inflation hit a decade-high in July 2022.

South Korea Exports: First 10 days: YoY: Passenger Cars data was reported at 6.200 % in Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 24.900 % for Feb 2025. South Korea Exports: First 10 days: YoY: Passenger Cars data is updated monthly, averaging 13.700 % from Jan 2017 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 99 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,001.400 % in Oct 2018 and a record low of -85.700 % in Oct 2017. South Korea Exports: First 10 days: YoY: Passenger Cars data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Korea Customs Service. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.JA003: Trade Statistics: First 10 Days. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

South Korea Imports: First 10 days: YoY: Machinery data was reported at -7.300 % in Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 14.700 % for Feb 2025. South Korea Imports: First 10 days: YoY: Machinery data is updated monthly, averaging 2.100 % from Jan 2017 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 99 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 195.500 % in Oct 2018 and a record low of -49.400 % in Oct 2017. South Korea Imports: First 10 days: YoY: Machinery data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Korea Customs Service. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.JA003: Trade Statistics: First 10 Days. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

South Korea GDP Nowcast: sa: YoY: Contribution: Business Cycle Indicators data was reported at 38.859 % in 03 Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 39.402 % for 24 Feb 2025. South Korea GDP Nowcast: sa: YoY: Contribution: Business Cycle Indicators data is updated weekly, averaging 25.530 % from Jan 2019 (Median) to 03 Mar 2025, with 322 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 39.402 % in 24 Feb 2025 and a record low of 14.637 % in 24 Oct 2022. South Korea GDP Nowcast: sa: YoY: Contribution: Business Cycle Indicators data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by CEIC Data. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.CEIC.NC: CEIC Nowcast: Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Producer Prices in South Korea increased 1.50 percent in February of 2025 over the same month in the previous year. This dataset provides - South Korea Producer Prices Change - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

South Korea GDP Nowcast: sa: YoY: Contribution: Equity Market: Korea Stock Exchange: Index: Korea Composite Stock Price Index: Medical Supplies data was reported at 0.829 % in 03 Mar 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.773 % for 24 Feb 2025. South Korea GDP Nowcast: sa: YoY: Contribution: Equity Market: Korea Stock Exchange: Index: Korea Composite Stock Price Index: Medical Supplies data is updated weekly, averaging 0.994 % from Jan 2019 (Median) to 03 Mar 2025, with 322 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.829 % in 01 May 2023 and a record low of 0.000 % in 21 Oct 2024. South Korea GDP Nowcast: sa: YoY: Contribution: Equity Market: Korea Stock Exchange: Index: Korea Composite Stock Price Index: Medical Supplies data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by CEIC Data. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.CEIC.NC: CEIC Nowcast: Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

In October 2023, building construction in South Korea saw a rise in the value of completed construction put in place compared to the same month a year before. Value of construction completed, or value of construction put in place (VIP), refers to the estimate of the total value of construction work completed in that month. This measurement allows for clearer measuring of the construction market outside of the number of contracts as literal construction can be delayed due to factors such as a sluggish economy, rise in raw material prices, etc.

In October 2024, South Korean exports totaled about 57.5 billion U.S. dollars, up from around 52.4 billion dollars in the same period a year earlier. The value of goods exported from South Korea declined after the outbreak of COVID-19, but recovered from July 2020 onwards.

Korea Retail Sales: Major Department Stores: Number of Customers Purchase Good data was reported at -4.300 % in Oct 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of -1.000 % for Sep 2018. Korea Retail Sales: Major Department Stores: Number of Customers Purchase Good data is updated monthly, averaging 0.800 % from Feb 2003 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 187 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14.200 % in Jun 2016 and a record low of -9.100 % in Jun 2015. Korea Retail Sales: Major Department Stores: Number of Customers Purchase Good data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.H019: Retail Sales: YoY%.

Imports in South Korea increased to 54400 USD Million in October from 52100 USD Million in September of 2024. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - South Korea Imports - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Korea Retail Sales: Major Discount Outlets: Sporting Goods data was reported at -19.900 % in Oct 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of -0.900 % for Sep 2018. Korea Retail Sales: Major Discount Outlets: Sporting Goods data is updated monthly, averaging -2.100 % from Feb 2003 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 189 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 59.000 % in Sep 2007 and a record low of -23.500 % in Jun 2015. Korea Retail Sales: Major Discount Outlets: Sporting Goods data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.H019: Retail Sales: YoY%.

As of February 2025, there were 5.56 billion internet users worldwide, which amounted to 67.9 percent of the global population. Of this total, 5.24 billion, or 63.9 percent of the world's population, were social media users. Global internet usage Connecting billions of people worldwide, the internet is a core pillar of the modern information society. Northern Europe ranked first among worldwide regions by the share of the population using the internet in 2024. In The Netherlands, Norway and Saudi Arabia, 99 percent of the population used the internet as of April 2024. North Korea was at the opposite end of the spectrum, with virtually no internet usage penetration among the general population, ranking last worldwide. Asia was home to the largest number of online users worldwide – over 2.93 billion at the latest count. Europe ranked second, with around 750 million internet users. China, India, and the United States rank ahead of other countries worldwide by the number of internet users. Worldwide internet user demographics As of 2023, the share of female internet users worldwide was 65 percent, five percent less than that of men. Gender disparity in internet usage was bigger in the Arab States and Africa, with around a ten percent difference. Worldwide regions, like the Commonwealth of Independent States and Europe, showed a smaller gender gap. As of 2023, global internet usage was higher among individuals between 15 and 24 years across all regions, with young people in Europe representing the most significant usage penetration, 98 percent. In comparison, the worldwide average for the age group 15–24 years was 79 percent. The income level of the countries was also an essential factor for internet access, as 93 percent of the population of the countries with high income reportedly used the internet, as opposed to only 27 percent of the low-income markets.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea in the second week of December 2024, only 11 percent of respondents approved of President Yoon Suk Yeol's performance in office, while 85 percent disapproved. These figures represent his lowest approval and highest disapproval ratings since taking office. Public opinion on President Yoon’s policies President Yoon's approval ratings began a downward trend shortly after he won the presidential election in March 2022. Since then, his policies – particularly in economic management and public appointments – have faced widespread criticism. According to a survey conducted in December 2024, more than 70 percent of respondents disapproved of his economic policies and expressed dissatisfaction with his government appointments. Impeachment of President Yoon The short-lived declaration of martial law and deployment of armed troops to the National Assembly on December 3, 2024, marked a critical turning point in Yoon’s presidency. This unprecedented move, the first of its kind in 45 years, sparked outrage across the country. Subsequently, the National Assembly passed an impeachment bill on December 14, 2024, suspending Yoon from office. If the Constitutional Court upholds the impeachment, Yoon will be permanently removed from office, and a new presidential election will be triggered within 60 days. Meanwhile, separate investigations into insurrection charges resulted in Yoon's arrest on January 15, 2025, making him the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested. Just days later, on January 26, Yoon was formally indicted on charges of insurrection.

In 2023, the price of fabricated structural steel in the United Kingdom has fallen by over 20 percent. That came after the cost of that building material soared between 2020 and 2022. Most of that price increase happened in 2021, with a growth rate of 52.6 percent that year. Structural steel is widely used for construction because it is durable, malleable, and strong, while also being cheaper than many other metals. For example, it is often used as a structural material for skyscrapers and other buildings, as well as for infrastructure. Why has the price of steel increased? Those price increases seen until 2022 have not just affected the UK, but many other countries around the world. For example, the cost of fabricated structural metal in the U.S. and that of structural steel and other steel products in Germany reached their highest growth rate in 2022. Supply chain disruptions along with a decrease in the global production of crude steel in 2020 were some of the main reasons for those price hikes in 2021. In addition to that, the price of iron ore, which is the main component of steel, and energy also had a strong impact on the final price of steel products those years. Largest steel producers In the past couple of years, China was by far the largest steel producer in the world, with a production volume that was well over seven times higher than that of the second country in the ranking: India. Although the United States was also on that list along with Japan and Russia, it was not among the leading exporters of steel. The reason for that discrepancy is that a big share of the production in countries of the size of the U.S., China, and India goes to fill their own domestic needs. Meanwhile, nine of the 15 companies with the highest output of steel came from China, with the rest coming from Luxembourg, Japan, South Korea, India, and the U.S.