Thailand's domestic spending set to improve: Deputy PM

[BANGKOK] Thailand's domestic spending is set to improve in coming months as the government has accelerated its budget disbursement and oil prices are staying at low levels, Deputy Prime Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula said on Monday.

Pridiyathorn told reporters the government's plan of a cash injection for rice farmers nationwide would help boost spending. He said the inflation rates would picking up from the low level reported for December.

Annual Thai headline inflation eased to a more than 5-year low of 0.6 per cent in December as oil prices declined, giving the central bank more leeway to cut interest rates to spur the struggling domestic economy.

REUTERS