S. Korea's consumer confidence improves for 2 months

Confidence among South Korean consumers improved for two straight months, with consumer outlook for economic situations rising to a five-month high, central bank data showed on Wednesday.

Composite consumer sentiment index (CCSI) stood at 101 in April, up 1 point from the previous month, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK).

The index fell from 105 in November last year to 98 in February, before turning upward in March. A reading above 100 implies that optimists outnumbered pessimists.

Prospective economic conditions index, which gauges economic outlook over the next six months, increased from 82 in March to 86 in April, the highest in five months.

The improved consumer confidence was attributable to the easing of concerns about financial market volatility, which was rattled by geopolitical risks earlier this year and crude oil price fall.

Inflation expectations, which measure outlook for headline inflation in the next 12 months, came in at 2.5 percent in April, unchanged for nine straight months since August 2015. Endit