Industrial Sentiment Index improves

BANGKOK, 22 June 2016 (NNT) - The Thai Industrial Sentiment Index (TISI) had improved from 86.4 points in April to 85 in May, as the drought crisis began to abate.

President of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) Chen Numchaisiri also attributed the rise to higher demand for school supplies in May, when the new term began, as well as the government’s move to raise industrial standards.

The auto industry reportedly saw a 15.9% increase in car sales in May compared to the same period last year. The FTI President linked the sales increase to the government's economic stimulus measures. An estimated 66,000 vehicles were sold in May alone.

However, the FTI President revealed that the majority of manufacturers remain concerned over the continuous rise of energy costs, given the fragile state of the current economy.

Mr. Chen forecast exports to contract by 2% during the first half of 2016, as many of Thailand’s trade partners have suffered economically. However, the Thai economy is expected to recover in the second half of the year and stabilize export growth.

-- NNT 2016-06-22

From 86.4 in April to 85 in May is an improvement?

Yesterday's headline news.

Grassroots Economic Sentiment Index edges down in May. 43.6 in May decreasing from 44.9 in April.

Today's headline news.

Industrial Sentiment Index improves in May. 85.0 in May increasing from 86.4 in April. (??????)

Make of that what you can. How many more sentiments are there? I feel sadness for the government manager of sentimental statistics.

From 86.4 in April to 85 in May is an improvement?

Only if you can't add up and you don't have your calculator handy.

Normal for Thailand.

W

Normal for Thailand.

Well, normal for NNT, who swapped the two figures in their English translation. The Nation got it right, as of course did all the news sources in Thai.

Thai industry organizations like the FTI are in fact considerably more on the ball than you might think from some of the dreadful translations that make it into English.