The nation's industrial output rose one-point-two percent in December, posting gains for the first time in three months.

However, domestic spending fell for the second straight month.

Statistics Korea released its data on industrial activities on Friday, which showed that production in mining and manufacturing grew one-point-two percent last month from November thanks to increased output in semiconductors, chemicals and automobiles.

Inventory in manufacturing fell three percent while average plant operation in the sector rose one percentage points to 73-point-eight percent last month.

Meanwhile, the service sector output remained the same as November as an increase in transportation was offset by a decline in wholesale and retail.

Retail sales which refer to domestic consumption fell one-tenth of a percent in December, led by a five-percent drop in sales of semi-durable goods such as clothing.

Retail sales rose three percent last October as a result of stimulant measures including lower individual consumption tax for auto purchases and the Korean version of Black Friday discount events. But the figure fell in November and December.

The cyclical component of the coincident composite index fell zero-point-one percentage points last month while that of the leading composite index fell zero-point-five percentage points.

Industrial output for the whole of last year rose one-point-five percent from the previous year due to increased production in construction and the services sector.

Industrial output growth has continued in the one-percent range for the fourth straight year.

However, due to lackluster exports, mining and manufacturing output was down zero-point-six percent last year, the lowest in six years.

The Finance Ministry said that consumer sentiment can slow down with the end of individual consumption tax cuts, and promised to carry on the Korea Grand Sale event and implement additional measures if necessary.