BANGKOK, 10 January 2014 The Department of Internal Trade (DIT) is confident there will not be shortages of commodities and unfair price hikes during the Bangkok mass protest on January 13 although supplies could run low in some areas.
DIT Director-General Somchart Soithong assured that officials would be monitoring product prices closely amidst the rally situation in an effort to keep them at appropriate levels. He made a promise to the consumers that there would not be problems arising from supply shortage or price gouging by vendors as the demonstration was expected to obstruct transport of goods only in Greater Bangkok. Nonetheless, he conceded that a decrease in supply could be seen in adjacent areas.
Based on a recent survey conducted by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the spending on commodities by people in Bangkok and its vicinities is rising by 39.4% during this period before the mass rally, whereas the spending elsewhere stays unchanged. The finding signifies that the public have begun to hoard goods for fear of supply shortages.
