Households' real consumption spending fell zero-point-seven percent during the third quarter from a year earlier, dropping three quarters in a row.

According to data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics on Thursday, the average monthly household consumption between July and September totaled two-point-94 million won, or around two-thousand U.S. dollars, up one-point-three percent year-over-year.

Real spending, accounting for inflation, decreased zero-point-seven percent, following declines of zero-point-seven percent and one-point-two percent in the first and second quarters, respectively.

A ministry official said reduced spending on groceries was apparent ahead of the Chuseok holiday, which fell in October this year.

The average monthly household income stood at five-point-44 million won, marking the ninth consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth and a three-point-five percent increase from 2024.

Real income expanded one-point-five percent.