Statistics Korea, the central government’s official organization for the tabulation and distribution of statistical information, reported yesterday that he Industrial Production Index in August increased by 17.1 percent from the same period of the previous year, but decreased by 1.0 percent from the previous month, indicating that the rapid recovery seen over the past year may be slowing.

The report also stated that shipments in August were down 0.7 percent from the previous month, but went up 16.6 percent from the same period of the previous year, inventories in August were up by 2.1 percent from the previous month and 19.2 percent from the same period of the previous year and capacity in August was up by 6.9 percent from the same period of the previous year.

The consumption trend numbers revealed that retail sales in August went down 0.7 percent from the previous month, but went up 9.3 percent from the same period of the previous year.

The Operation Ratio, Manufacturing Average Operation Ratio and Service Industry Activity Index were all down month over month 3.5, 3.0 and 0.2 respectively, but up year over year supporting the notion that the economic recovery may be slowing.