Consumer sentiment stays below par for 2nd month in Sept.

South Korean consumers' confidence stayed below par for the second straight month in September as the protracted eurozone debt crisis heightened economic uncertainties, the central bank said Tuesday.

The consumer sentiment index -- a gauge of consumers' overall economic outlook, living conditions and future spending -- came in at 99 for September, unchanged from the previous month, according to a survey by the Bank of Korea (BOK).

The September figure marked the lowest level since the index hit 98 in January, the central bank said.

A reading below the benchmark 100 means pessimists outnumber optimists. The survey, based on a poll of 1,984 households in 56 cities nationwide, was conducted from Sept. 11-18.

"A set of economic data at home and abroad cemented concerns about the economic slowdown, leading consumer sentiment to remain weak," said an official at the BOK.

The data came as growing downside risks are raising the possibility that the South Korean economy is likely to grow in the 2 percent range this year.

The BOK froze the key rate at 3 percent for the second straight month in September after delivering a surprise rate cut in July.

South Korean consumers' inflation expectations inched down this month, reflecting that the slowing consumer prices may gradually lower the country's inflation expectations.

South Korean consumers forecast in September that inflation would reach an annual average of 3.4 percent over the next 12 months, down from a 3.6 percent estimate made in the previous month, according to the bank. The September data marked the lowest level since 3.3 percent in December 2010.

Reflecting the easing inflationary pressure, the index gauging consumers' outlook for inflation also fell to 139 in September, down from 141 tallied in August, it said. (Yonhap News)