Consumer sentiment fell for the second consecutive month in October amid concerns about prolonged trade negotiations with the United States and renewed tensions between the U.S. and China.

The Bank of Korea announced in its Consumer Tendency Survey for October, released on Tuesday, that the composite consumer sentiment index came in at 109-point-eight for October, down zero-point-three points from the previous month.

A reading above 100 indicates that optimists outnumber pessimists.

The October figure marked its lowest level in four months, since June.

Meanwhile, the prospective housing prices index jumped to 122, its highest in four years, despite a series of government measures aimed at cooling the property market.