Thai economy in 2015 depends on both internal, external factors

BANGKOK, November 6 (TNA) - Bangkok-based University of the Thai Chamber Commerce's Center of Economic and Business Forecasting, says that the Thai economy depends on both internal and external factors next year. Like other senior economists, the center's director, Thanawat Polvichai, forecast on Thursday that the Thai economy should grow by 4-5 per cent in 2015, on top of 1.3-1.5 per cent in 2014. Thanawat assessed that the Thai government's new mega investment projects on infrastructure development should boost the national economy to reach the targeted growth. The director cautioned, however, that the global economic situation would also be an important factor for Thailand's economic expansion next year. The senior economist also reported that Thailand's consumer confidence index (CCI) in October 2014 stood at 80.1, an increase from 79.2 a month earlier, thanks to the government's 360-billion baht economic stimulus measures for the fourth quarter of this year, lower oil prices and increased exports in September. But local consumers remained worried over low prices of farm products, rising costs of living and the uncertainty of the global economy. (TNA)