**[Anchor]**
Let’s take a look at the economic situation.
In last month’s economic indicators, consumer spending has once again raised concerns.
After a brief rise with the issuance of consumer coupons in July, the momentum didn’t continue, and last month recorded a decline, marking the largest drop in a year and six months.
Reporter Lee Jung-min, please give us a detailed summary of the consumption indicators.
**[Reporter]**
Last month’s retail sales index decreased by 2.4% compared to the previous month.
This marks a return to decline in four months.
It’s the largest drop in about 18 months since it fell by 3.5% in February last year.
Sales of semi-durable goods such as clothing increased by 1.0%, but sales of non-durable goods like food and beverages fell by 3.9%, and durable goods like electronics decreased by 1.6%.
In the previous month, July, retail sales had increased by 2.7% due to the effect of issuing livelihood recovery consumption coupons.
It is interpreted that the consumption boost from the coupons was short-lived.
**[Anchor]**
How about investment and production centering on businesses?
**[Reporter]**
Equipment investment, which had succeeded in rebounding in July, turned back to a decline, decreasing by 1.1%.
Investment in machinery increased by 1.0%, but investment decreased in transportation equipment such as aircraft and ships by 6.0%.
Construction performance also showed a sluggish trend, with a 6.8% decrease in architecture and a 4.0% decrease in civil engineering, resulting in a 6.1% decrease from the previous month, marking the second consecutive month of decline.
However, construction orders, which indicate the future construction economy, increased by 44.8% compared to the same month last year, with orders increasing for residential buildings (46.9%) and civil engineering such as railroads (38.4%).
The all-industry production index maintained a level similar to the previous month, with production increases in the mining and manufacturing industry, but decreases in service, construction, and public administration sectors.
This is Lee Jung-min from SBS Biz.
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