South Korea’s Consumer Sentiment Index (CCSI) rose 2.1 points to 106.6 in September 2026, recovering from an August decline as household-income expectations improved, stock-market volatility eased and real-economy conditions remained solid. The Bank of Korea said strong exports and consumption supported the gain, while the current economic assessment rose 4 points to 83 and the household-income outlook increased 2 points to 102. Housing-price expectations held at 125, well above their long-term average of 107, as sharp apartment-price gains in the greater Seoul area offset the effect of housing policy measures and expectations for a higher base rate. Seoul recorded the highest regional housing outlook reading at 133. President Lee Jae-myung said officials had been instructed to prepare a system to acquire homes below a specified threshold for public housing if a rise in loan delinquencies and foreclosure auctions caused prices to fall sharply.