(LEAD) Virus flare-up feared to hurt domestic demand: finance ministry

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details in paras 6, 8, 9)

SEOUL, Dec. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's domestic demand is feared to lose steam amid the latest upsurge in COVID-19 cases and tighter antivirus measures, the finance ministry said Friday.

Amid global inflation risks and supply chain disruptions, Asia's fourth-largest economy faces persisting uncertainty due to the spread of the omicron variant and major economies' move to accelerate monetary policy shifts, the ministry said in its monthly economic assessment report, called the Green Book.

"The country's exports remain robust and the job market has extended its recovery, but the latest spike in COVID-19 patients and stricter quarantine measures are feared to affect domestic demand, including in-person service segments," the report showed.

The South Korean economy faces growing downside risks from the latest upsurge in virus cases and the spread of the omicron variant.

The country's daily virus cases and critically ill patients broke records this month after it relaxed virus curbs in November under the "living with COVID-19" scheme meant to gradually return to normal life.

The country added 7,435 more COVID-19 cases Friday, bringing the total to 551,551. Health authorities confirmed three more omicron cases, bringing the total to 151.

To contain the spread of the virus, the government announced it will reduce the maximum size of private gatherings to four people nationwide and restore a 9 p.m. curfew on restaurant and cafe business hours. The measures will be in effect from Saturday until Jan. 2.

The finance ministry said it is currently difficult to gauge how severely the spike in COVID-19 cases would affect consumer spending.

"Compared with previous waves of the pandemic, the current flare-up in virus infections may have a smaller impact on consumption. But it remains to be seen," Kim Young-hoon, a ministry official, told reporters.

Private spending has improved as people have increased activity amid the vaccine rollout and the economic recovery.

In the third quarter, private spending fell 0.2 percent from three months earlier, compared with a 3.6 percent on-quarter gain in the second quarter, according to central bank data. Retail sales, a gauge of consumer spending, rose 0.2 percent on-month in October, extending their gains to the second straight month.

The ministry said card spending increased and consumer sentiment improved in November.

Credit card spending went up 13.6 percent on-year last month, marking the 10th straight month of gains, according to the ministry. Sales at department stores increased 17.1 percent on-year.

But domestic sales of cars fell 15.7 percent on-year in November, extending their fall to the ninth month. Sales at discount stores also shed 7.2 percent on-year.

sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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