(LEAD) Sept. industrial output growth hits 15-yr high on chips; retail sales, investment also up

What happened: South Korea's September industrial output rose from a month earlier at the fastest pace in more than 15 years, led by chips, with retail sales and facility investment also gaining. Key numbers: Industrial production up 3 percent on-month, sharpest since 3.4 percent in March 2011. Why it matters: The data ministry attributed the gains to increased production of memory chips such as DRAM. It was the first time since June that the three major indicators increased simultaneously.

South Korea's September industrial output rose from a month earlier at the fastest pace in more than 15 years, led by chips, with retail sales and facility investment also gaining.

The data ministry attributed the gains to increased production of memory chips such as DRAM. It was the first time since June that the three major indicators increased simultaneously.