Thai Jan consumer mood dips for first time in 5 months: survey

[BANGKOK] Thai consumer confidence dropped in January for the first time in 5 months, hurt by a spike in coronavius cases, a slow economic recovery and high prices of goods, a survey showed on Thursday (Feb 10).

The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce fell 3 per cent on a monthly basis to 44.8 in January.

Consumer spending is likely to remain sluggish in the first quarter, with political uncertainty adding to concerns, the university said, following signs of discord growing in the coalition government.

Spending on Valentine's Day for instance is set to drop to a 15-year low of 2 billion baht (S$82.1 million), university president Thanavath Phonvichai told a briefing.

"Goods are expensive, the outbreak is still there, and political stability is not that good," he said.

But he added the economy could still grow by 3.5 per cent to 4.0 per cent this year on expectations that coronavirus infections will ease by March and high goods prices will be temporary.

Inflation, which hit a 9-month high of 3.23 per cent in January, has yet to impact the country's economic outlook and there is no pressure on the central bank to rush to raise rates, he added.

On Wednesday, the central bank kept its key interest rate at a record low of 0.50 per cent again and ruled out an immediate need to adjust policy. REUTERS