South Korea GDP Slows for Second Quarter

The transcript discusses the economic slowdown in South Korea, highlighting a second consecutive quarter of reduced growth. Key factors include declining exports and reduced consumer spending. The central question is how the Bank of Korea will respond, with potential interest rate cuts being considered. Despite the slowdown, government officials remain optimistic, citing positive signs in factory output and a potential improvement in the second half of the year. However, many economists surveyed by Bloomberg anticipate at least one rate cut this year, showing less optimism than government officials.

What are the main factors contributing to the economic slowdown discussed in the first section?

• Rising corporate investments

• Improved factory output

• Increased government spending

• Declining exports and reduced consumer spending

What is the central question regarding the Bank of Korea's response to the economic slowdown?

• Whether to reduce government spending

• Whether to boost exports

• Whether to cut interest rates

• Whether to increase taxes

What action did the Bank of Korea take last week concerning interest rates?

• Kept rates unchanged at 1.5%

• Decreased rates by 0.5%

• Increased rates by 0.5%

• Eliminated interest rates

What positive signs are government officials pointing to in the third section?

• Increasing exports

• Slowing decline in exports

• Rising consumer spending

• Decreasing factory output

What do more than half of the economists surveyed by Bloomberg believe about the Bank of Korea's future actions?

• They will increase rates multiple times

• They will eliminate interest rates

• They will maintain current rates indefinitely

• They will cut rates at least once this year