South Korea's consumer sentiment confidence fell for the third consecutive month in February on intensifying trade pressure from the U.S. and worries about U.S. rate hikes.

According to a survey by the Bank of Korea on Tuesday, the composite consumer sentiment index for this month stood at 108-point-two, down one-point-seven points from the previous month.

The index has been on a steady decline since December after rebounding in October and November last year.

A reading above 100 means optimists outnumber pessimists.

The central bank said the drop was largely led by growing trade pressure from the U.S. and a fall in stock prices over forecasts that the U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to speed up its monetary tightening.