BANGKOK, 2 June 2015 – The Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday announced that the inflation rate in May 2015 dropped to -1.27%, remaining in the negative territory for five consecutive months. It is the highest negative inflation rate in five years and eight months.
Inspector of the Ministry of Commerce Somkiat Trirattanaphan said the consumer price index or inflation rate in May 2015 was 106.53, decreasing by 1.27% compared to the same period last year. However, it increased by 0.17% compared to April 2015, resulting in a 0.77% drop in 5-month average inflation from January to May.
The factors contributing to the -1.27% inflation rate included a 0.11% increase in the food and non-alcoholic beverage index and a 2.00% drop in other indices.
The Ministry of Commerce forecast that the tendency of the Thai inflation rate in the second half of the year would likely rise in line with global oil price.
