BANGKOK, Nov 2 – Flood-related consumer product and food shortages are likely to lessen this week, according to Permanent Secretary for Commerce Yanyong Puangrach.
To resolve goods distribution to flood-hit areas, the country’s major hypermarkets are trying to distribute the products to nearby branches not affected by the high water, Mr Yanyong said.
As the stores also imported staple food and beverages, including drinking water, eggs and canned fish, from neighbouring countries and sped up distributing those items to their branches, the senior commerce official expressed confidence that the shortages will ease from this week onwards.
Meanwhile, flood-caused panic buying in Bangkok is likely to calm down after this week.
Mr Yanyong admitted that retailers in some areas had raised prices of goods, particularly eggs and drinking water.
As a result, he ordered provincial commerce officials to closely monitor and check prices.
