Risk and sentiment
Korea Consumer Sentiment
A monthly composite of how Korean consumers judge their circumstances and expect conditions and spending to develop. Above 100 means sentiment is more optimistic than the long-run average, an early read on domestic demand.
At a glance
Korea Consumer Sentiment: latest value and prior change
As of 2026-08-31, Korea Consumer Sentiment is 104.5 idx. It is 2.30 idx lower than 106.8 idx on 2026-07-31.
Across 218 available observations from 2008-07-31 to 2026-08-31, the latest value is at the tie-adjusted 64th percentile.
- Observed on
- Default comparison window
- 2008-07-31–2026-08-31
- Observations · observed cadence
- 218 · Monthly
- Data source
- Bank of Korea ECOS
A high or low percentile does not by itself make the indicator positive, negative, or a buy or sell signal.
Time-series chart
Korea Consumer Sentiment
2008-07-31–2026-08-31
Long-history series are stored as real provider observations. Index, FX, VIX, and ratio charts use historical backfill where providers expose it; Korean investor flow and margin-credit feeds expand as stable historical endpoints become available.
Recent observations and calculated changes
The ten latest chart observations. Change subtracts the previous observation; intervals vary with holidays, release schedules and missing data. A difference in rates or ratios is not an investment return.
| Observed | Value | Previous date | Difference (current − previous) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-31 | 104.5 idx | 2026-07-31 | -2.30 idx |
| 2026-07-31 | 106.8 idx | 2026-06-30 | 0.20 idx |
| 2026-06-30 | 106.6 idx | 2026-05-31 | 0.50 idx |
| 2026-05-31 | 106.1 idx | 2026-04-30 | 6.90 idx |
| 2026-04-30 | 99.20 idx | 2026-03-31 | -7.80 idx |
| 2026-03-31 | 107.0 idx | 2026-02-28 | -5.10 idx |
| 2026-02-28 | 112.1 idx | 2026-01-31 | 1.30 idx |
| 2026-01-31 | 110.8 idx | 2025-12-31 | 1.00 idx |
| 2025-12-31 | 109.8 idx | 2025-11-30 | -2.50 idx |
| 2025-11-30 | 112.3 idx | 2025-10-31 | 2.70 idx |
Source: Bank of Korea ECOS
Interpretation guide
Taking the household temperature with the CCSI
Korea Consumer Sentiment (CCSI) is a composite the Bank of Korea publishes late each month from its consumer survey, blending six component indexes covering current living conditions and expectations. The long-run average is set at 100, so readings above it indicate above-average optimism and below it, pessimism.
What 100 means and how to read the series
The 100 mark is a relative position against the historical average, not an absolute threshold of good or bad. The working order is to check the level, then the direction over recent months, and finally the speed of change, since abrupt drops carry information of their own.
- A recovery from the low 90s back through 100 is a more meaningful market signal than time spent above the line.
- Drops of around five points in a month call for identifying the trigger, whether rates, FX, or a headline event.
- Beyond the composite, check sub-indexes such as housing-price and interest-rate expectations.
The gap between sentiment and spending
Sentiment tends to lead actual consumption but does not always match it. Optimistic households constrained by debt service may not spend, while pessimistic ones keep buying essentials, so verification against measured data is mandatory.
- Track whether sentiment gains show up in Korea Retail Sales YoY with a lag of a quarter or two.
- When Korea Household Credit YoY has grown quickly, sentiment recoveries transmit to spending more weakly.
- During inflation spikes, weak sentiment may reflect price frustration rather than spending cuts; read it with Korea CPI YoY.
Equity relevance and avoiding misreads
Consumer sentiment previews demand conditions for domestic-facing sectors but rarely moves stocks on release day. Its practical use is at troughs: an upturn from depressed levels is a cue to examine retail, travel, and food names.
- Look for sentiment upturns coinciding with improving relative strength in domestic-demand sectors.
- As a survey, it is sensitive to news around the response window, so treat single-month spikes as possible event noise.
- When it diverges from the corporate-side Korea All-Industry Business Outlook BSI, let hard data arbitrate.