Photo credit: Pornprom Satrabhaya
In April, Thai households spent an average of 18,187 baht on consumer goods, with the largest expenses allocated to public transport, petrol, and mobile phone bills, as per a Commerce Ministry survey. The category of non-food and alcoholic products represented 58.50% of total expenditure, while food and non-alcoholic products made up the remaining 41.50%, according to Poonpong Naiyanapaporn, the head of the ministry’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office.
Among the major expenditures in the first category were costs for public transport, petrol, and mobile phones totaling 4,267 baht, while spending on food for home cooking amounted to 1,651 baht in the second category.
Despite a slight dip in the consumer confidence index from 54.1 in March to 51.9 in April, the index has stayed above 50 for 17 consecutive months. The decline was attributed to concerns about the economy’s slow recovery progress, increased living costs, and expenses associated with the new school term following the boost from Songkran festivities.
Furthermore, Wattanasak Sur-iam, the director-general of the Internal Trade Department (DIT), mentioned that officials are carefully monitoring the prices of goods impacted by the intense heat, such as fresh produce. Stringent measures are in place to prevent unfair price hikes, with street food vendors required to display clear prices. The DIT will conduct random checks and encourages the public to report any violations through the hotline 1596. Violators could face fines up to 140,000 baht or up to seven years in jail, as stated by Mr. Wattanasak.
