Dry monsoon season affecting consumer choices скачать в хорошем качестве

Dry monsoon season affecting consumer choices

We're smack bang in the middle of monsoon season here in Korea, however you wouldn't know it by looking out of your window. Rain has been hard to come by so far this summer,... and that's had an effect on the buying habits of Koreans. Our Connie Kim reports. "The monsoon period in Korea, which usually falls from late June to late July, is when the nation typically receives about 40 percent of its precipitation for the whole year. But weaker-than-normal atmospheric pressure from the North Pacific has made for dry conditions so far this summer, and it's had a direct effect on consumer spending." Rain boots and umbrellas are usually flying off the shelves by now, but not this year. "Our sales have been dominated more by people going on vacation this year. Folding tables and camping-related items have been quite popular." Sales of leisure or folding tables have jumped the most among all summer products, followed by camping and barbecue gear. It's a sign that consumers are adjusting to the abnormally dry weather conditions. Some 400 millimeters of rain fell on Seoul from July 1st to the 15th last year,... while just 23-and-a-half millimeters has fallen this year. As such, less people are buying rain boots, umbrellas and other rain-related products, including dehumidifiers, which have been affected the most among all electric items. The retail industry has also had to adjust its marketing strategies. "Compared to last year,... we aren't featuring dehumidifiers or clothing that usually sells well during the monsoon period. We've cut out our coverage of these items by about 20 to 30 percent." Instead, they're promoting more vacation-related products, which have enjoyed a sales boom two to three weeks earlier than normal. Industry insiders say some retail shops have already started focusing on their upcoming fall products... as the monsoon season isn't forecast to be as severe as in years past. Connie Kim Arirang News.