MNI POLICY: BOK Consumer Sentiment Posts 4th Straight Rise

South Korea's Composite Consumer Sentiment Index posted a fourth straight rise in August, up 4.0 points to 88.2 from 84.2 in July, the Bank of Korea said on Tuesday.

Consumer outlook on current living standards was unchanged from July at 85 in August, and the future outlook rose 2.0 points to 89.0.

Consumer sentiment related to future household income was up 2 points to 92 in August, also the fourth straight rise.

Future household spending also posted the fourth straight rise in August, up 4 points to 99 in August. Consumer sentiment concerning current domestic economic conditions rose by 5 points to 54 and future domestic economic conditions index also rose by 5 points to 75.

The key indexes have recovered after they fell considerably in April due to the spread of coronavirus, but the recent rising infections in the country is clouding the outlook future improvement.

The expected inflation rate for the following year was 1.8% in August, up from 1.7% in July, the BOK survey showed.