"Even Supermarket Discounts Barely Help"...Retail Sector Staggering Amid Worst Consumption Cliff [3-Minute Brief]

[At a Glance]
① Retail sector hit hard by domestic demand slump
② Economic downside pressure rises due to US tariffs and other factors
③ Interest rates in the 1% range...Deposit-lending rate gap widens for eight consecutive months

MARKET INDEX : Year to date

○ Progress in trade agreements between the US and major countries is a key variable
○ "Current stock prices have become expensive again...approaching overbought territory"
○ Stock rebound led by big tech companies

Top3 NEWS

■ "I can't even shop at department stores, I barely grab discounted items at supermarkets"...The worst 'disappearance of consumption'

○ Retail sector hit by the worst consumption cliff
○ Major department stores posted negative sales growth in Q1
○ Fashion and supermarkets also feeling the pinch...Fierce competition to generate profits through ultra-low prices, discount events, and cost reduction

■ Ministry of Economy and Finance: "Export slowdown and downward pressure on the economy due to worsening external conditions"

○ Added mention of export slowdown
○ Exports to the US decreased as the tariff war intensified
○ "Not significantly different from the KDI outlook"

■ Even if you put a large sum in savings, the interest rate is only 1% "Not interesting"...Loans remain in the '4% range'

○ Deposit-lending rate gap has widened for eight consecutive months
○ All seven major commercial banks' 1-year term deposit products recorded base rates in the 1% range
○ Meanwhile, the average mortgage interest rate at the five major commercial banks remains in the 4% range

Graphic News "Oil prices and exchange rates down" Import prices fall for third month, putting downward pressure on consumer prices

○ April export/import price index and trade index (provisional)
○ Import prices fell 1.9% from the previous month
○ Sharp drop in international oil prices and a weaker won-dollar exchange rate

the Chart: Buffett's Berkshire reduces financial stocks...Sells all Citigroup shares

○ Sold some major US financial stocks
○ Expanded holdings in consumer goods-related stocks
○ Berkshire's cash and cash-equivalent assets reached an all-time high

Today's Key Schedule

○Domestic

On the 19th, Immunoncia is listed on KOSDAQ, final public offering price set at 3,600 won

On the 19th, subscription for Shinhan No.16 SPAC on KOSDAQ, final public offering price set at 2,000 won

○International

11:00 China Year-to-date Industrial Production (YoY) (April)

11:00 China Unemployment Rate (April)

18:00 Europe Consumer Price Index (YoY) (April)

21:30 US FOMC member Bostic speech

23:00 US Leading Index (MoM) (April)

◇Lunch & Evening Commute Weather

○Lowest temperature 10℃(▲11℃) ｜Highest temperature: 20℃(▲20℃)
○Precipitation probability: 20% in the morning｜60% in the afternoon
○Fine dust: Moderate in the morning｜Moderate in the afternoon

3 minutes is all you need?essential, cost-effective economic news. Published every day at 8:00 AM.