BANGKOK, 29 April 2011 – The Thai economy this year is anticipated to expand by 4.1% due to continuous global economic expansion and higher demand in the private sector, according to the Bank of Thailand (BoT).
BoT Assistant Governor for Monetary Policy Group Paiboon Kittisrikangwan stated the country’s economic growth is still expected to move in a range of around 3-5%, which is within the original estimate of the Thai central bank.
Mr Paiboon also indicated that the national headline inflation rate is likely to increase to 3.9% from the previous estimation of 3.4%; however, the core inflation rate is projected to dwindle from 2.5% to 2.3% as a result of the recent extension of the government’s relief measures.
Some relief measures to shoulder people’s cost of living are free electricity for those who use electricity less than 90 units a month, fare-free train for economy-class seats, free non air-conditioned public bus on some routes, and price freezes for Liquefied Petroleum Gas and Natural Gas Vehicles.
