Thailand’s headline consumer price index (CPI) in April jumped 3.41 per cent year-on-year to 100.48 points, the Ministry of Commerce said Wednesday.
“The surge of consumer price index in April was the highest recorded in eight years and four months,” said Wichanun Niwatjinda, a deputy director at the Trade Policy and Strategy Office.
The CPI came out higher than anticipated in a Reuters’ analyst poll by 2.50 per cent. In March the figure fell 0.08 per cent from last year.
A rise in oil prices from the low base levels last year, increasing electricity and water bills after assistance schemes ended and rising fresh food prices such as pork and vegetables, all pushed the index higher, said Wichanun.
Of the 430 product and service items used to calculate inflation, the prices of 134 items rose in April. A total of 99 items saw a decline, while the prices of the remaining 197 items were unchanged.
Covid-19 outbreak concerns
The Trade Policy and Strategy Office said the new wave of Covid-19 has affected the nation’s economy across sectors, which could slow down the economic recovery.
Looking ahead in May, the CPI will continue to rise at high levels if there are no financial aid measures from the government to support cost of living, Wichanun said.
The government Wednesday announced a third round of cash handouts to help consumers face the economic hardships of the latest wave of the pandemic.
Wichanun said stimulus plans were expected to continuously launch and could boost domestic demand to offset the burden in the tourism sector.
Although this will all need paying for sooner or later.
 in April jumped 3.41 per cent year-on-year to 100.48 points, the Ministry of Commerce said){kind=link}