South Korea's industrial output reduced last month due to sluggishness in the nation's main economic drivers such as handset and automobile, a government report showed Monday.

Industrial output for all industries, a main gauge of economic activities, declined 0.3 percent in November from a month earlier after rising 1.4 percent in the prior month, according to the Finance Ministry.

Production in mining and manufacturing industries was unchanged in November from the previous month after increasing 2.1 percent in October, the fastest growth in 11 months.

The ministry said that production in cars and handsets, the economy's two major engines, fell last month, noting that the reduction offset increase in output of chips and chemical products.

Retail sales grew 0.9 percent in November from a month earlier, but the growth was lower than a 1.5 percent gain in the prior month. Facility investment sank 5.5 percent last month after jumping 19.4 percent in the prior month. Endi

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