Consumer Prices On The Rise, Ministry Warns

[george]

Consumer prices on the rise, Commerce Ministry warns

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's Commerce Ministry has given a warning it may have to lift price restrictions on a range of consumer goods because of the rising cost of oil on world markets.

Permanent Secretary Karun Kittisataporn said consumer price rises were being closely monitored and there was a commitment to alleviate the impact of any increases. But faced with constantly rising oil prices, he said there may have to be a review of the price-capping measures imposed on consumer goods producers.

“We will seek their co-operation not to increase the price of goods for the time being.Realistically though, we have to take into account how the operators have to shoulder the cost burden of rising oil prices,” Mr Karun said.

He said the Commerce Ministry had its own formula to work out whether a price rise was reasonable or not.

Mr Karun also noted that the government wanted to end its costly subsidy to domestic oil supplies and had recently started raising retail prices for diesel with a view to ending the subsidy by mid-2005. Meanwhile, Mr Karun said the Commerce Ministry had held a meeting today of a retail trade strategy committee.

Retailing is one of the 16 key areas up for overhaul under the newly re-elected government’s national economic reform plan. In recent years, Thai retailers complained that they were being driven out of business by tough competition from multinationals who had entered the local retail market.

According to the Permanent Secretary, the committee's findings would be incorporated in an overall retail strategy plan being prepared by the National Economic and Social Development Board. The aim of the plan is to boost the competitiveness of Thai retailers. It will presented to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in April.

--TNA 2005-03-11

[RDN]

No problem: Diesel fuel 15 baht / litre for Thais, 150 baht / litre for farangs. Problem solved.

[Lars]

Ouch!

Luckily I drive a car using gasoline

[RDN]

...and of course, any foreigner rich enough to drive a car that runs on gasoline: 200 baht/litre (Thais 20 baht/litre).

Seems fair enough to me

[Felt 35]

No problem: Diesel fuel 15 baht / litre for Thais, 150 baht / litre for farangs. Problem solved.

...and of course, any foreigner rich enough to drive a car that runs on gasoline: 200 baht/litre (Thais 20 baht/litre).

This is a very good idea and it should be the same the other way around.

Any Immigrant or refugee to the Western world should pay 10 times the price as what the locals pay.

What a wonderful and clean world it would be!!!

[RDN]

...

...and of course, any foreigner rich enough to drive a car that runs on gasoline: 200 baht/litre (Thais 20 baht/litre).

This is a very good idea and it should be the same the other way around.

Any Immigrant or refugee to the Western world should pay 10 times the price as what the locals pay.

What a wonderful and clean world it would be!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My Buddha! I think we've just solved most of the world's problems concerning immigration, racial conflicts, etc.: - everyone stays at home! Brilliant! I will suggest this is adopted immediately by Tony Blair's New Labour.

[marquess]

The trouble is that once prices go up, they will never come down, even if the oil prices do. Capitalists can rarely resist making more and more profits!