South Korea's consumer confidence fell to the lowest in nine months in October amid lingering concerns over economic slowdown, data by the central bank showed Friday.

The consumer sentiment index (CSI), which gauges consumers' overall sentiment over economic conditions, came in at 98 in October, down 1 point from a month earlier, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK).

The figure was the lowest since January when it recorded the same reading of 98. The CSI is based on survey responses from 1, 999 households in 56 cities conducted between October 12 and 19.

Weak consumer confidence stemmed mainly from concerns over the domestic economic slump caused by external uncertainties such as European debt problems and the possible US fiscal cliff.

The country's real gross domestic product (GDP) grew 0.2 percent in the third quarter from the previous quarter, hitting the lowest level in around three years. The poor results boosted worries that the Asia's No.4 economy may see its recovery delayed further amid worsening economic conditions.

The central bank slashed earlier this month its 2012 economic growth outlook for the country to 2.4 percent from an earlier estimate of 3 percent. Reflecting the dimmer outlook, the BOK lowered its policy rate by 25 basis points (bps) to 2.75 percent at the October rate-setting meeting.

Several sub-indices showed a dim picture. Consumer sentiment on current living standards and prospective living conditions stayed unchanged at low levels of 86 and 92 respectively, with the sentiment on prospective income remaining steady at 94. Consumer sentiment on prospective spending fell 1 point to 104 this month.

In October, consumer sentiment on current economic conditions was unchanged at 66, but that on prospective economic conditions fell 1 point to 78.

South Korean consumers' expectation for inflation stayed at the identical level from the previous month. Inflation expectation over the next 12 months came in at an annual rate of 3.4 percent in October.