World
Korea: the economy in numbers
The economy grew 3.8% in Q2 2026; inflation was 2.8% in Jul 2026; the policy rate is 3.00%. Every reading tipsheet tracks for Korea, with its history and what is usual for it. Readings Korea does not publish openly are listed, not dropped.
Written for investors following Korea from India.
Snapshot
The latest reading of each measure, the period it is for, the reading a year earlier and where today's sits in the economy's own history since 2000 (100 = the highest).
| Measure | Latest | Period | A year earlier | Percentile | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real GDP growth | +3.8% | Q2 2026 | +0.8 | 58 | OECD |
| Industrial production | +5.5% | Jul 2026 | +7.3 | 64 | OECD |
| Retail sales volume | −0.7% | Jul 2026 | +2.7 | 20 | OECD |
| Exports, US$ | +57.4% | Jun 2026 | +2.1 | 100 | IMF (derived) |
| Leading indicator | 102.9 | Aug 2026 | 99.6 | 98 | OECD |
| Unemployment rate | 2.7% | Aug 2026 | 2.8 | 7 | OECD |
| Consumer price inflation | 2.8% | Jul 2026 | 2.1 | 63 | BIS |
| Core inflation (ex food and energy) | 3.4% | Aug 2026 | 1.3 | 88 | OECD |
| Producer prices | +9.7% | Apr 2022, stopped | +6.0 | 98 | IMF (derived) |
| Policy rate | 3.00% | 28 Aug | 2.50 | 54 | BIS |
| 10-year government bond yield | 4.45% | Sep 2026 | 2.85 | 62 | OECD |
| Private credit and credit gap | −15.1 pp | Q1 2026 | −5.5 | 16 | BIS |
| Currency against the dollar, daily | +4.5% | 2 Oct | −6.1 | 74 | FRED (DEXKOUS) |
| Real effective exchange rate | 89.9 | Aug 2026 | 90.7 | 8 | BIS |
| Current account | US$ +266 bn | Q2 2026 | +106 | 100 | IMF (derived) |
| Trade balance | US$ +188 bn | Jun 2026 | +56 | 100 | IMF (derived) |
| FX reserves | +4.7% | Jul 2026 | +0.1 | 46 | IMF (derived) |
| Government debt, % of GDP | 45% | Q1 2026 | 47 | 93 | BIS |
| Budget balance, % of GDP | −2.5% | 2025 | −1.5 | 8 | OECD |
| House prices, real | −0.5% | Q2 2026 | −1.9 | 39 | BIS |
Not published openly and on time, so not shown: inflation expectations, money supply growth, stock market return.
Growth and jobs
Output, factories, shops, exports, the leading indicator and unemployment.
Real GDP growth: +3.8% in Q2 2026, up from +0.8 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Industrial production: +5.5% in Jul 2026, down from +7.3 a year earlier
% on a year earlier. Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Retail sales volume: −0.7% in Jul 2026, down from +2.7 a year earlier
% on a year earlier. Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Exports, US$: +57.4% in Jun 2026, up from +2.1 a year earlier
% on a year earlier. Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Leading indicator: 102.9 in Aug 2026, up from 99.6 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Unemployment rate: 2.7% in Aug 2026, down from 2.8 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Prices
Consumer prices, the core measure without food and energy, producer prices and expected inflation.
Consumer price inflation: 2.8% in Jul 2026, up from 2.1 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Core inflation (ex food and energy): 3.4% in Aug 2026, up from 1.3 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Producer prices: +9.7% in Apr 2022 (series stopped)
% on a year earlier. Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Interest rates and money
The central bank's rate, the government's borrowing cost, the central bank's balance sheet, money and credit.
Policy rate: 3.00% on 28 Aug, up from 2.50 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
10-year government bond yield: 4.45% in Sep 2026, up from 2.85 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Private credit and credit gap: −15.1 pp in Q1 2026, down from −5.5 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
The currency and the stock market
The currency's value in dollars over a year, its real trade-weighted value, and the stock market's one-year return.
Currency against the dollar, daily: +4.5% on 2 Oct, up from −6.1 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Real effective exchange rate: 89.9 in Aug 2026, down from 90.7 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Trade, reserves and the government
What the economy earns from the world, its reserves, its government's debt and deficit, and house prices.
Current account: US$ +266 bn in Q2 2026, up from +106 a year earlier
US$ billion, summed over the last 12 months (or 4 quarters). Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Trade balance: US$ +188 bn in Jun 2026, up from +56 a year earlier
US$ billion, summed over the last 12 months (or 4 quarters). Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
FX reserves: +4.7% in Jul 2026, up from +0.1 a year earlier
% on a year earlier. Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Government debt, % of GDP: 45% in Q1 2026, down from 47 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Budget balance, % of GDP: −2.5% on 2025, down from −1.5 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
House prices, real: −0.5% in Q2 2026, up from −1.9 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
The workings
The question
Data
Every chart has a table view, a CSV download and a link to its published JSON. Bundles are listed in data status.