FPO maintains Thai economic growth at 4.2%

 

 

BANGKOK, 30 April 2018 (NNT) – The Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) of the Ministry of Finance has maintained this year’s expected economic expansion rate at 4.2%. 

The FPO said on Saturday that the Thai economy continued to recover in the third month of 2018, mainly thanks to the export and tourism sectors, and in line with the economic expansion of Thailand’s trade partners. 

Other factors contributing to the country’s economic growth were domestic consumption, government spending, and private sector investment. 

Given the current trend, the FPO said it will maintain this year’s growth forecast at 4.2%, a 0.3% rise year-on-year. 

In the meantime, Bank of Thailand Governor Veerathai Santiprabhob has voiced the view that although the overall economy is growing, the recovery of the grassroots economy is still sluggish, partly due to the high agricultural debt and the large number of low-income earners.

 

-- nnt 2018-04-30

Just shows, If it is true, how much "western" countries care about Democracy  vs making money.

The good news:

"In March, Thailand’s trade balance recorded a surplus of USD 1.3 billion, which was above the USD 810 million surplus in the prior month."

The bad news:

"the surplus came in below the one logged in the same month a year ago (USD 1.6 billion surplus). Moreover, the 12-month sum of the trade balance dropped from USD 12.2 billion in February to USD 11.8 billion in March." (underlined emphasis added)

https://www.focus-economics.com/country-indicator/thailand/trade-balance

Economic measures revolve around benchmarks.

The FPO may have a political agenda behind the benchmark it chose, ie., a PM that wants to be elected.