31 Jan 2024
Thai Economy
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10 Oct 2023
9 May 2023
3 Apr 2023
22 Dec 2022
Due to the fragile recovery seen in income and the high cost of living, consumers continue to be cautious about their spending. However, most of them have resumed outdoor activities, including travelling as COVID-19 has begun to ease. They have also organized celebrations during various festivities during the second half of 2022 as they usually did before COVID-19. This is in line with the survey conducted by KResearch, showing that a majority of Bangkok residents continue to place importance on festive celebrations. They intend to set aside a greater amount of funds than that during a normal period to organize activities during a festival despite their limited budget. ... Read more
21 Sep 2022
Due to rising vegetarian food prices in line with higher production costs, and floods damaging agricultural crops that are the main ingredients of vegetarian food, especially vegetables and tofu which typically see price hikes during the Kin Jae festival, the number of Bangkok residents participating in this year’s festival would not increase, even though the COVID-19 situation has improved. Additionally, they would reduce their number of days of participation so as to control spending budgets for vegetarian food.... Read more
10 May 2022
As the COVID-19 situation eases, students will be returning to study onsite per normal circumstances, with schools set to reopen on May 17. Generally, at this time of year, parents must assume the burden of their children’s education expenses. While the prices of energy and various goods have risen substantially, employment and household income remain fragile. This may impact the ability to pay education expenses among parents and guardians whose financial status is affected by the abovementioned circumstances. ... Read more
30 Mar 2022
KResearch is of the view that spending by Bangkok residents during the upcoming Songkran Festival 2022 will reach THB23.4 billion, a decline of 2.5 percent YoY, as they intend to spend less on all activities due to the rising cost of living, driven by inflation. Most of the Bangkok city dwellers will be more careful about their spending, which is in line with the poll conducted by KResearch in 2022, showing that the respondents of all income brackets intend to cut their expenses, compared to those in the previous three months. ... Read more
24 Jan 2022
KResearch views that the gradual rise in product prices and living costs will continue to pressure Bangkokians’ spending during the Chinese New Year Festival in 2022. While the Omicron outbreak may have generated concern among consumers, some Bangkok residents of Chinese descent still plan to celebrate the festival and participate in related activities, though the festivities will likely be organized with caution and adjusted in line with market conditions and purchasing power. ... Read more
18 Jan 2022
The rise in living costs, whether it is in food prices, electricity bills or commuting expenses, has affected and generated much anxiety among Bangkok residents, particularly low-income earners who make less than THB15,000 a month, the worst-affected income group in the capital. In general, people with monthly income of less than THB15,000 are seeing a 20 percent increase in their living expenses, compared to late 2021 before the prices of goods and services went up. As a result, Bangkokians have adjusted their spending behavior by making only necessary purchases, reducing or delaying the consumption of luxury goods like fashion products, cutting back on social events and buying cheaper substitute products like budget-friendly meat choices, secondhand items, and second/third-tier brands.... Read more
13 Dec 2021
KResearch perceives that New Year 2022 will likely have a more festive atmosphere than the year before, thanks to improvements in the COVID-19 situation, better access to vaccines, the government’s measures to boost purchasing power and an expedited campaign to support businesses during the holiday season. Close attention should still be paid to the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, as it could potentially affect consumer sentiment during the upcoming New Year period. Hence, ... Read more
9 Oct 2019
The Cabinet, September 10, 2019, approved the 1,000-Baht cash handout as part of the government’s “Chim Shop Chai (Taste Shop Use)” program to stimulate domestic tourism, effective September 27 - November 30, 2019. Currently, a large number of people has begun to spend the cash giveaway in provinces where they signed up to the program. KResearch has conducted a survey on spending behavior of Thai households that have registered with phase 1 of the “Chim Shop Chai” program and the findings are as follows:... Read more
12 Jun 2018
The KR-ECI and 3-month Expected KR-ECI slipped to 44.9 and 46.2 for May chiefly because of substantial increases in the domestic prices of goods and services, in particular energy. Household income and employment, however, improved, due in part to continuing recovery in the Thai economy and higher farm output, which helped offset falling agricultural produce prices and buoy farm income.... Read more
8 May 2018
KResearch expects that parents in Greater Bangkok will spend around THB27.5 billion during the 2018 school year, up 1.9 percent YoY, showing a decrease in spending growth because the main spending items such as tuition remain unchanged. Additionally, most parents are spending cautiously on education-related merchandise, namely, school uniforms, books and school supplies by choosing cheaper products or buying in less quantity, compared to last year. In addition, the number of students in the 2018 school year is expected to be static versus the figures in 2017. ... Read more
4 May 2018
The 3-month Expected KR-ECI increased to 46.9 in April 2018 because households expected that their expenditures (excluding debt) would decline over the next three months after the Songkran spending spree and making tuition fee payments for their children.... Read more
12 Mar 2018
According to a survey on household economic conditions for February, views of Thai households across the country toward economic conditions and the cost of living over the next three months remained unchanged. This is reflected in the 3-month Expected KR-ECI that was static at 47.1 in February. Households still had positive views toward income and employment, given the daily minimum wage rise slated for April 2018, while prices of some key agricultural produce, namely “Hom Mali” rice and cassava, have begun to increase. However, households were concerned about growing debt.... Read more
7 Nov 2017
The Thai economy has signaled growth in 2017, with satisfactory performance seen in exports and tourism that has caused many institutions to revise... Read more
11 Oct 2017
4 Apr 2017
Songkran spending may not be very flamboyant this year, with many impediments such as concern toward living costs, inconvenient travel, high ambient... Read more
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