BANGKOK, 7 June 2011 – The Department of Internal Trade (DIT) will ask food sellers in department stores for their cooperation in preparing low-priced ready meals of not more than 25 baht each in an effort to control the national inflation rate to expand within the target range of 3.2-3.7%.
According to DIT Director-General Vatchari Vimooktayon, the DIT will hold discussion with a working group overseeing cooked food prices and related entrepreneurs on 10 June 2011 in order to formulate measures to control food prices.
Initially, the DIT will request food courts in department stores, food shops in the Blue Flag network and those in exhibition halls, to add dishes priced at not more than 25 baht to their menus, to offer more alternatives for consumers.
The DIT however will not meddle in the operation of restaurants, general food shops and hotels because they are not compulsory for people to visit. The DIT is confident that this measure will help curb the inflation rate to rise between 3.2 and 3.7% as ready meals account for 15% of the calculation on inflation.
Meanwhile, prices of egg and pork are falling according to the market mechanisms. Egg prices recently fell by another 10 satang as farm-gate price of mixed sized eggs now is at 2.80 baht each. Pork price has lately fallen to not more than 130-135 baht a kilogram.
