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Higher living cost depresses sale of Songkran items
The increasing cost of living has already impacted sales of necessary items
used during the upcoming annual Songkran festival, the traditional Thai New
Year, traders said last Sunday.
TNA conducted surveys at selected key markets in Bangkok and talked to
wholesalers and retailers.
Piyawat Nuntawakul, a watergun trader, said his sales had dropped about 30
per cent a week ahead of the festival, due to the country’s sluggish
economic conditions while the price of waterguns, imported from China, had
also increased 10 per cent.
The Office of the Consumer Protection Board has said the sale of
high-pressured waterguns or PVC pumpguns was prohibited for this year’s
Songkran. Several traders of Thai-made scented and talcum powder, used
during the Songkran festival which normally runs from April 13 to 15 each
year, also reported a drop in sales.
On the other hand sales of Thai-style fancy shirts which are usually worn
during Songkran was steady compared to last year’s festival, although prices
had risen between Bt5 and Bt10.
Meanwhile, Noppadol Kannikar, director of Assumption University’s ABAC Poll,
said a survey showed up to 82.3 per cent of respondents realized the
importance of the Songkran festival.
The survey was conducted by ABAC Poll on 3,997 people aged above 14 years in
18 provinces nationwide between March 29 and April 5.
The northern capital of Chiang Mai remained the most popular destination for
Songkran revelers, followed by the southern resort island of Phuket,
according to the poll. Each festival celebrant was expected to spend an
average of Bt2,116, with more than Bt52 billion expected to change hands
during the festival. (TNA)
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