South Korean consumer confidence weakened slightly in September 2026, according to the latest Thomson Reuters IPSOS Primary Consumer Sentiment Index (PCSI). The indicator slipped to 44.27, down from 44.52 in August 2026, based on month-over-month comparison data updated on 11 September 2026.
The modest decline signals a marginal deterioration in consumers’ views on the economic and personal financial outlook compared with the previous month. In August, the index had reached 44.52, itself the result of a month-on-month change versus July. September’s reading suggests that sentiment remains subdued and below the neutral 50-point threshold, indicating that pessimistic views still outweigh optimistic ones among South Korean consumers.
With the PCSI now lower on a month-over-month basis, market participants and policymakers are likely to monitor upcoming data closely for signs of whether this softening in sentiment will deepen or stabilize into the final quarter of the year.
