S.Korea discount store sales rise for a third month in May

E-Mart

29/06/2017 03:00

SEOUL, June 29 (Reuters) - South Korea's discount store 
sales rose for a third month in May, trade ministry data showed 
on Thursday. 
    Demand for electronics and clothes boosted overall sales at 
discount stores, while sales of grocery items fell slightly, the 
Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said.   
    Combined sales at discount stores run by Lotte Shopping 
 023530.KS , and E-mart  139480.KS  and Homeplus rose 1.6 
percent from a year earlier.  
    Sales increased 2.3 percent in April on-year, after a 2.5 
percent gain in March. 
    South Korea's consumer confidence soared to a six and a 
half-year high in June as households became more optimistic 
about the economy and President Moon Jae-in announced new job 
creation policies.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nS6N0PR02O 
     
 
         
 
 (Reporting by Cynthia Kim; Editing by Eric Meijer) 
 ((Cynthia.Kim@thomsonreuters.com; 822 3704 5654; Reuters 
Messaging: cynthia.kim.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: SOUTHKOREA ECONOMY/RETAIL