South Korea's index of industrial production rose 4.6 percent on the month in December after falling 0.3 percent in November, while year-over-year growth picked up from 0.1 percent to 5.3 percent. Within the industrial sector, manufacturing output rose 4.4 percent on the month after a previous decline of 0.2 percent, with year-over-year growth up from 0.4 percent to 5.5 percent. Previously published PMI survey data, in contrast, showed conditions in the manufacturing sector weakened in December, with data for January due to be published shortly.

Activity was mixed in other sectors. Service sector output rose 1.7 percent on the month in December after falling 0.2 percent in November, while construction sector activity rose 1.3 percent after a previous decline of 0.9 percent. Output in the public administration sector fell 1.2 percent after a previous decline of 0.9 percent. Aggregating across all sectors, output rose 2.3 percent on the month after a previous fall of 0.3 percent, with year-over-year growth picking up from a fall of 0.3 percent to an increase of 1.4 percent.

The consensus sees industrial production up a sluggish 0.1 percent on the month in December, not impressive after a decline of 0.7 percent in November.

The industrial production index measures changes in the volume of industrial production with respect to the base year. The index charts the growth in production of each major industry and of the manufacturing sector. Industrial Production measures the physical output of the nation's factories, mines, and utilities. Factories manufacture various products, and the industrial production indexes have been prepared as a comprehensive indicator of wide-ranging production activities for such products and are regarded as some of the most important among economic indexes.

Investors want to keep their finger on the pulse of the economy because it usually dictates how various types of investments will perform. The stock market likes to see healthy economic growth because that translates to higher corporate profits. The bond market prefers more subdued growth that won't lead to inflationary pressures. By tracking economic data such as industrial production, investors will know what the economic backdrop is for these markets and their portfolios.

Industrial production provides key industry data for export-dependent economies. It is highly sensitive to the business cycle and can often predict future changes in employment, earnings and income. For these reasons industrial production is considered a reliable leading indicator that conveys information about the overall health of the economy. This report has a big influence on market behavior. In any given month, one can see whether capital goods or consumer goods are growing more rapidly. Detailed data in the report shows which sectors of the economy are growing and which are not.