S. Korea`s home shopping sales hit record high in Sept.

SEOUL, Nov. 9 (Yonhap) -- Home shopping sales in South Korea hit an all-time high
in September thanks mainly to increased consumer spending, a government report
showed Monday.
Total sales for the country's home shopping companies surged 44 percent on-year
to 569.6 billion won (US$490 million) in September, according to the report by
the National Statistical Office (NSO).
The figure, which was up 30 percent from August, marks the first time that
monthly home shopping sales has topped the 500 billion won mark since the NSO
started compiling related data in January 2008.
"Nonstore retail sales have been on the increase due to a change in consumption
structure and rising consumer spending, but it remains to be seen whether a rise
in home shopping sales in September stemmed from the wide-spreading Influenza A
virus in South Korea," an NSO official said.
Monthly sales for home shopping companies surpassed sales at local convenience
stores, which came to 554.9 billion won in September, for the first time ever.
In addition, combined nonstore retail sales including home shopping and online
shopping rose 22.8 percent on-year to 2.54 trillion won in September.
A surge in nonstore retail sales came in sharp contrast to faltering in-store
sales.
Total sales at local discount stores rose 2.1 percent on-year to 2.73 trillion
won in September, while supermarket sales fell 3.5 percent to 2.1 trillion won,
according to the report.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
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