Minister:Thailand's consumer goods prices remain stable

BANGKOK, March 7 (TNA) - Thai Commerce Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya has reiterated that prices of most consumer goods on the domestic market remain stable, compared to the corresponding period of last year. General Chatchai told journalists on Saturday, however, that people appear to do not have confidence in their future income, causing sales to become sluggish, while many traders have also stopped their businesses. General Chatchai suggested the only way to increase people's purchasing power is to reduce their debts incurred from populist programmes, introduced by the previous administrations, or to temporarily suspend their debt repayment. According to the commerce minister, the interim government has accelerate budget disbursements, including those for public investment projects, while private investment has also been boosted by the government's incentives, aimed to stimulate the Thai economy. (TNA)