Consumer sentiment fell in December as prolonged currency weakness dampened spending confidence.

The Bank of Korea(BOK) said in its Consumer Tendency Survey, released Wednesday, that the composite consumer sentiment index stood at 109‑point‑nine for December, down two‑point‑five points from the previous month.

A reading above 100 indicates that optimists outnumber pessimists.

The index had climbed to its highest level in eight years in November but reversed course after just one month.

A BOK official said survey respondents were highly concerned about the rising exchange rate and expressed worries about the economic outlook tied to currency movements.

The index measuring consumers’ economic outlook for the next six months slipped six points to 96, while the index assessing current economic conditions fell seven points from the previous month to 89.