South Korea Consumer Sentiment Recovers in September

South Korea’s Composite Consumer Sentiment Index (CCSI) rose by 2.1 points in September 2026 from the previous month, reaching 106.6. Consumer sentiment toward current living standards remained unchanged at 92, while expectations for living standards over the next period edged up one point to 98.

Perceptions of future household income improved, with the corresponding index gaining two points to 102, and expectations for future household spending increased by one point to 110.

Views on current domestic economic conditions strengthened, with that index rising four points to 83, and sentiment about future domestic economic conditions advanced one point to 90.

Assessments of prospective employment opportunities improved as well, increasing two points to 88. Expectations for interest rates climbed three points to 128.

Inflation expectations remained stable: projected inflation over the next year stayed at 2.7%, while three-year and five-year inflation expectations were unchanged at 2.6%.