Seoul: South Korea's industrial output experienced a downturn in September, primarily due to reduced production in the semiconductor and other manufacturing sectors, as reported by recent data. According to Yonhap News Agency, the data compiled by Statistics Korea revealed a 0.3 percent decrease in industrial production from the previous month, following a 1.3 percent rise in August. On a year-over-year basis, factory output declined by 1.1 percent. The overall mining and manufacturing sector witnessed a 0.2 percent drop, with semiconductor production falling by 2.6 percent. The service sector also saw a decline, with output sliding by 0.7 percent, ending a three-month period of growth. Retail sales, an indicator of private spending, decreased by 0.4 percent in September compared to the previous month, which had seen a 1.7 percent increase. Durable goods sales, such as vehicles, increased by 6.3 percent, but sales of foodstuffs and other non-durable goods fell by 2.5 percent. Sales of semidurables, includin g shoes and bags, also decreased by 3.2 percent. Additionally, sales in duty-free shops plummeted by 9.2 percent, primarily due to a decline in Chinese tourists. On a yearly basis, retail sales dropped by 2.2 percent, marking the seventh consecutive month of decline. Conversely, facility investment saw a significant rebound, surging 8.4 percent on-month, recovering from a 5.1 percent decrease in August. However, construction investment slightly decreased by 0.1 percent, continuing a five-month downward trend. A finance ministry official noted increasing downside risks in the economy, emphasizing the government's commitment to supporting exporters and the manufacturing sector. The government plans to introduce measures to stimulate domestic demand and support struggling industries, such as the construction sector. Bank of Korea (BOK) data indicated that the gross domestic product expanded by 0.1 percent on-quarter in the July-September period, which was below market expectations. Consequently, both the gove rnment and the BOK are anticipated to adjust their growth projections for the year downward.