SEOUL, July 20 (Korea Bizwire) — The changing patterns of daily life and economic measures that have accompanied the onset of the coronavirus pandemic have resulted in higher sales of cars, home appliances and furniture this year.
The Korea Insurance Research Institute reported Sunday that car purchases in April and May were up 20.8 percent and 26.9 percent, respectively, compared to last year.
Similarly, furniture sales jumped by 24 percent and 32.1 percent in April and May, respectively.
Purchases of shoes and bags, on the other hand, dropped by 29.5 percent and 13.6 percent in April and May, respectively, as well as sales of clothes, which dropped by 21.6 percent and 9.6 percent.
Consumption of cosmetics products, too, dropped by 22.8 percent in April and 23.7 percent in May.
The institute explained that these consumption patterns are the result of economic measures such as tax breaks for car purchases and emergency relief funds coupled with increased time spent indoors due to the coronavirus.
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