increased by 3.4%, which more than offset an increase in imports of goods and services by 3.5% and a decrease in gross fixed capital formation by 0.5%, each compared with 2021.
Based on preliminary data, GDP growth in the first nine months of 2023 was 1.4% at chained 2015 year prices, primarily due to an increase in aggregate private and general government consumption expenditures by 2.1%, an increase in gross fixed capital formation by 2.2% and an increase in exports of goods and services by 0.5%, the effects of which were offset in part by an increase in imports of goods and services by 2.8%, each compared with the corresponding period of 2022.
Principal Sectors of the Economy
Prices, Wages and Employment
Based on preliminary data, the inflation rate was 3.7% and the unemployment rate was 2.7% in the first nine months of 2023.
The Financial System
Securities Markets
The Korea Composite Stock Price Index was 2,564.3 on June 30, 2023, 2,632.6 on July 31, 2023, 2,556.3 on August 31, 2023, 2,465.1 on September 27, 2023, 2,278.0 on October 31, 2023, 2,535.3 on November 30, 2023, 2,655.3 on December 28, 2023 and 2,497.1 on January 31, 2024.
Monetary Policy
Foreign Exchange
The market average exchange rate between the Won and the U.S. Dollar (in Won per one U.S. Dollar) as announced by the Seoul Money Brokerage Service Ltd. was Won 1,312.8 to US$1.00 on June 30, 2023, Won 1,280.0 to US$1.00 on July 31, 2023, Won 1,321.4 to US$1.00 on August 31, 2023, Won 1,344.8 to US$1.00 on September 27, 2023, Won 1,352.8 to US$1.00 on October 31, 2023, Won 1,289.0 to US$1.00 on November 30, 2023, Won 1,289.4 to US$1.00 on December 29, 2023 and Won 1,330.6 to US$1.00 on January 31, 2024.
Balance of Payments and Foreign Trade
Balance of Payments
Based on preliminary data, the Republic recorded a current account surplus of US$16.6 billion in the first nine months of 2023. The current account surplus in the first nine months of 2023 decreased from the current account surplus of US$25.8 billion in the corresponding period of 2022, primarily due to an increase in deficit from the services account and a decrease in surplus from the goods account, the effects of which were offset in large part by an increase in surplus from the income account.
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