Thai consumers brace for higher goods prices

BANGKOK, May 4 (TNA) - A major wholesaler has warned that the prices of many more products in Thailand will further rise next month, caused by increasing labour and transport costs. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Somchai Pornratanacharoen, President of the Thai Wholesalers and Retailers Association, acknowledged that the prices of some consumer products, including seasoning sauces and canned fish, have already increased and more products will follow suit next month, caused by rising minimum wages and oil prices. Somchai predicted that goods prices on the domestic market will likely go up by about 10 per cent, especially products which depend heavily on labour and natural raw materials, indicating that the prices of some consumer products, namely soap, toothpaste and shampoo, have not risen but their promotions have been cut. The president of the Thai Wholesalers and Retailers Association said that most local producers affected by Thailand's flooding crisis late last year have already resumed their production; so, supply shortages in the country have remained with only 20-30 per cent of products and have had no serious impacts as the products have been substituted by imported items. Meanwhile, Bangkok Governor M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra launched the sales of discount chicken eggs to help consumers in the Thai capital. The chicken eggs are specially offered by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration or BMA at 2.50 baht each, while the market price stands at about 3 baht each. Some 210,000 chicken eggs are now available at 50 district offices in Bangkok during office hours from May 10-11 and from May 14-18, with each buyer allowed to order up to 30 eggs. (TNA)