Consumer confidence index rises for 4th straight month
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Oct 14 -- Thailand's Consumer Confidence Index increased in September for the fourth consecutive month and peaked for 9 years and 7 months or 115 months, according to a survey by the Commerce Ministry.

Amparwon Pichalai, commercial advisor and acting deputy permanent secretary for commerce, said the survey of 3,167 people nationwide found that last month's Consumer Confidence Index stood at 45.8, rising from 44.9 in the previous month.

Respondents were asked about their economic situation, income and employment opportunities.

The confidence index for the next three months was at 49.2, Ms Ampawon said.

She pointed out that although the indices were climbing, they remained below 50.

This shows that people still lack confidence in the economic situations due to the cost of living, rising unemployment, delayed tourism recovery, the low prices of farm products, widespread flood damage, and exports negatively affected by the global economic slowdown.

Consumer expectations for income (in the next quarter) peaked in 20 months as its index stood at 53.3.

Above the 50 level, the index reflects that consumers became confident of their future incomes and expected the new government to improve the national economy. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-10-14

What about Thai Debt.Has that also risen as reported last week ??

Figures courtesy of TAT?

There's a demonstrable increase in consumer confidence since Yingluck departed.

"Above the 50 level, the index reflects that consumers became confident of their future incomes and expected the new government to improve the national economy."

But reference to the 50 level milestone may be meaningless at best and deceptive at worse. According to the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, an index above 100 indicates an improving outlook and below 100 a deteriorating outlook. In recent history the index peaked in about April 2013 before the pro-Democrat Party anti-government protests and military coup at about 85, falling to about 68 in about April 2014, then peaking at about 80 in about August 2014.

To a layperson the data would seem to indicate that the current military-dominated government is enjoying a momentary recovery in consumer confidence resulting from a sharp drop due in part from its overthrow of the government and the sanctioning of the anti-government protests. So does this mean that the good news is that basically the Junta will get the country's economy back to where it was during the Yingluck regime, albeit at 3%-4% loss in GDP growth?

Thank you for the graph - Rickirs - it explains it all.

Figures courtesy of TAT?

yes it is sure to be a result connected in some way to the "massive " fall in tourism on the other thread. Thais obviously feel better now that tourism is down.

Figures courtesy of TAT?