Wage hike takes sting out of back-to-school shopping

PATTAYA:--January’s increase in the minimum wage has taken some of the sting out parents’ annual back-to-school shopping for uniforms and supplies.

Shoppers at area department stores and malls say the combination of the increase to 300 baht daily, a cut in employee insurance payments and the availability of government-backed small-business loans have given them more spending flexibility. Even though uniform prices have risen as much as 10 percent this year, store clerks say people are complaining about prices less.
Full story:http://www.pattayamail.com/localnews/wage-hike-takes-sting-out-of-back-to-school-shopping-26033

-- Pattaya Mail 2013-05-19

If wage increases were less than 10%, then this truly is a misguided story...................

Yes, but expect a sharp increase in "sweet shop" products following wage hikes in Thailand and production problems in China as most employees have not yet returned from their New Year holidays and workers demanding safer working conditions in Banladesh...