S Korean consumer sentiment rises in January

SEOUL, Jan. 28 (Chinese media) -- South Korea's consumer survey index (CSI) posted 84 in January, up from a 10-year low in the previous month, said the nation's central bank on Wednesday.

A series of rate cuts and economic stimulus plans helped ease concerns over the sharply slowing economy, said Huh Sang-do, official of the Bank of Korea (BOK).

"Amid the economic downturn, consumer sentiment will likely remain sluggish down the road," he said.

The CSI marked 81 in December last year, which was the lowest level since the fourth quarter of 1998 when the index reached 80.

Consumer survey index (CSI) is a proxy of consumers' overall sense of their economic outlook, living conditions and future spending. A reading below 100 means pessimists about the future economy conditions outnumbers optimists.