Consumer sentiment falls to 10-month low amid Middle East crisis | Yonhap News Agency

## Summary
OK SEOUL, March 25 (Yonhap) -- Consumer sentiment fell to a 10-month low in March, as the conflict in the Middle East and high oil prices stoked concerns about inflation and broader economic impacts, the central bank said Wednesday. A reading above 100 indicates that optimists outnumber pessimists, while a figure below 100 signals the opposite. "Despite solid exports, negative economic assessments increased as the conflict in Iran drove up global oil prices and heightened volatility in financial markets," Lee Heung-hoo, chief of the BOK's economic sentiment survey team, said. "The forward-looking consumer sentiment index also fell sharply, weighed down by concerns over inflationary pressures and a potential economic slowdown," he added. Korean currency rebounds from 17-yr low on hopes for Middle East de-escalation Producer prices rise for 6th consecutive month in Feb. on high oil prices: BOK Keywords #consumer sentiment Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Netflix, BTS to turn Seoul into world's 'biggest watch party' 'BTS: The Return' captures brotherhood under 'heavy crown': director Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms (3rd LD) About 40,000 fans gather for BTS comeback concert in downtown Seoul Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale seeks comfort through art, with Han Kang's sculpture of blackened trees Most Saved Netflix, BTS to turn Seoul into world's 'biggest watch party' Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms 'BTS: The Return' captures brotherhood under 'heavy crown': director Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale seeks comfort through art, with Han Kang's sculpture of blackened trees Downtown Seoul to enter security lockdown for massive crowd at BTS concert Most Viewed All Categories (4th LD) N. Korea's Kim reappointed as president of state affairs prev Consumer sentiment falls to 10-month low amid Middle East crisis Next Consumer sentiment falls to 10-month low amid Middle East crisis

## Article Content
Facebook
X
More
Pinterest
Linked in
Tumblr
Reddit
Facebook Messenger
Copy URL
URL is copied.
OK
SEOUL, March 25 (Yonhap) -- Consumer sentiment fell to a 10-month low in March, as the conflict in the Middle East and high oil prices stoked concerns about inflation and broader economic impacts, the central bank said Wednesday.
The composite consumer sentiment index (CCSI) came to 107 this month, down 5.1 points from February, according to a survey by the Bank of Korea (BOK).
It marked the lowest level since May 2025, when the index stood at 101.7. The decline also represented the sharpest monthly drop since December 2024, when the index fell 12.7 points following then President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration.
A reading above 100 indicates that optimists outnumber pessimists, while a figure below 100 signals the opposite.
"Despite solid exports, negative economic assessments increased as the conflict in Iran drove up global oil prices and heightened volatility in financial markets," Lee Heung-hoo, chief of the BOK's economic sentiment survey team, said.
"The forward-looking consumer sentiment index also fell sharply, weighed down by concerns over inflationary pressures and a potential economic slowdown," he added.
The U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran late last month have escalated into a broader regional conflict, with global oil prices surging as the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil transit route, has been effectively shut.
Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan visits a local gas station in the central city of Osong in this file photo taken March 16, 2026, as the government rolled out a temporary fuel price cap amid supply concerns. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)
Related Articles
(2nd LD) Lee calls for preemptive emergency response system as Iran war drags on
(2nd LD) Gov't to strictly enforce five-day vehicle rotation system for public sector
(LEAD) (News Focus) Iran crisis sharply weakens Korean won, fueling inflation, economic fallout concerns
(LEAD) S. Korean currency rebounds from 17-yr low on hopes for Middle East de-escalation
Producer prices rise for 6th consecutive month in Feb. on high oil prices: BOK
Keywords
#consumer sentiment
Articles with issue keywords
Most Liked
Netflix, BTS to turn Seoul into world's 'biggest watch party'
'BTS: The Return' captures brotherhood under 'heavy crown': director
Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms
(3rd LD) About 40,000 fans gather for BTS comeback concert in downtown Seoul
Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale seeks comfort through art, with Han Kang's sculpture of blackened trees
Most Saved
Netflix, BTS to turn Seoul into world's 'biggest watch party'
Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms
'BTS: The Return' captures brotherhood under 'heavy crown': director
Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale seeks comfort through art, with Han Kang's sculpture of blackened trees
Downtown Seoul to enter security lockdown for massive crowd at BTS concert
Most Viewed
All Categories
(4th LD) N. Korea's Kim officially recognizes S. Korea as 'most hostile' nation
(LEAD) N. Korea's Kim formally calls S. Korea 'most hostile' nation
(2nd LD) Gov't to strictly enforce five-day vehicle rotation system for public sector
(LEAD) Gov't to strictly enforce five-day vehicle rotation system for public sector
(2nd LD) N. Korea's Kim formally calls S. Korea 'most hostile' nation
Most Viewed More
Most Viewed Photos
N. Korea's Kim reappointed as president of state affairs
Cherry blossoms on Jeju Island
N. Korea's Kim reappointed as president of state affairs
N. Korea's Kim reappointed as president of state affairs
prev
Consumer sentiment falls to 10-month low amid Middle East crisis
Next
Consumer sentiment falls to 10-month low amid Middle East crisis

---

## Expert Analysis

### Merits
N/A

### Areas for Consideration
- Korean currency rebounds from 17-yr low on hopes for Middle East de-escalation Producer prices rise for 6th consecutive month in Feb. on high oil prices: BOK Keywords #consumer sentiment Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Netflix, BTS to turn Seoul into world's 'biggest watch party' 'BTS: The Return' captures brotherhood under 'heavy crown': director Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms (3rd LD) About 40,000 fans gather for BTS comeback concert in downtown Seoul Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale seeks comfort through art, with Han Kang's sculpture of blackened trees Most Saved Netflix, BTS to turn Seoul into world's 'biggest watch party' Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms 'BTS: The Return' captures brotherhood under 'heavy crown': director Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale seeks comfort through art, with Han Kang's sculpture of blackened trees Downtown Seoul to enter security lockdown for massive crowd at BTS concert Most Viewed All Categories (4th LD) N.

### Implications
- It marked the lowest level since May 2025, when the index stood at 101.7.
- Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan visits a local gas station in the central city of Osong in this file photo taken March 16, 2026, as the government rolled out a temporary fuel price cap amid supply concerns. (Yonhap) graceoh@yna.co.kr (END) Related Articles (2nd LD) Lee calls for preemptive emergency response system as Iran war drags on (2nd LD) Gov't to strictly enforce five-day vehicle rotation system for public sector (LEAD) (News Focus) Iran crisis sharply weakens Korean won, fueling inflation, economic fallout concerns (LEAD) S.
- Korea as 'most hostile' nation (LEAD) N.
- Korea 'most hostile' nation (2nd LD) Gov't to strictly enforce five-day vehicle rotation system for public sector (LEAD) Gov't to strictly enforce five-day vehicle rotation system for public sector (2nd LD) N.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers korea, sentiment, kim topics. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 596.