S. Korea's industrial output falls by 1.9 pct in February

SEOUL, March 29 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's industrial output declined 1.9 percent in February from a month earlier, the fastest fall in almost six years, a government report showed Friday.

Seasonally adjusted production in all industries dipped 1.9 percent in February from the previous month, the biggest reduction since March 2013, according to Statistics Korea.

Retail sales, which reflect private consumption, shrank 0.5 percent in February from a month ago.

Facility investment tumbled 10.4 percent in the month, marking the fastest decline since November 2013.

Construction completed retreated 4.6 percent in the cited period, indicating a lackluster construction industry.

The cyclical factor for leading indicators, which gauge outlook for future economic conditions, kept sliding for the ninth consecutive month through February.

The figure for coincident indicators was down 0.4 points in February from a month ago, continuing to skid for the 11th straight month.