S. Korea's industrial output growth falls to record low in 2014

South Korea posted a record low increase in industrial output last year, fueling worries that the economy may slip into a prolonged trend of low growth, a government report showed Friday.

Production in all industries, including manufacturing, services, construction and public administration, gained 1.1 percent in 2014 from a year earlier, marking the lowest since the data began to be compiled in 2000, according to Statistics Korea.

Output among manufacturers recorded a "zero" growth in 2014 as carmakers failed to maintain normal operation on partial strikes throughout the year. It was the weakest since a 0.1 percent fall in 2009 when the global financial crisis hit the economy.

Auto production got normalized from December when industrial output increased 0.9 percent compared with the previous month, posting the three straight month of expansion.

Shipments and inventory in the manufacturing and mining sectors logged a negative growth in 2014, falling to the lowest since 2009.

Average operating rate of facilities among manufacturers declined 0.2 percentage points from a year earlier to 76 percent in 2014, the lowest since 74.4 percent tallied in 2009. Endi