Inflation rose 2.53% year-on-year last month, while in the first eight months it went up 1.37% compared to the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Commerce, as reported by The Nation Thailand.
Nantapong Chiralerspong, director-general of the ministry’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office, said that much of the increase in August was due to domestic fuel prices remaining higher than a year earlier amid the prolonged Middle East conflict and additional economic sanctions.
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A shopper scans a QR code for a purchase using the government’s co-payment scheme in Samut Prakan province of Thailand on Oct 29, 2025. Photo by Bangkok Post via AFP |
Prices in the food and non-alcoholic beverages category increased 2.99% year on year. Prepared meals saw broad and relatively sharp price increases, with prices showing signs of remaining elevated.
Items that became more expensive included ready-cooked side dishes, noodles, rice with curry, rice with stir-fried basil, and fried rice.
Prices of white rice, eggs, fresh vegetables, and fresh fruit also increased, along with seasonings and non-alcoholic beverages such as drinking water, instant coffee, and hot and iced coffee.
Fresh chicken prices also rose. The trade office attributed part of the increase in fresh-food prices to stronger purchasing power under the “Thai Chuey Thai Plus” scheme.
However, prices declined for some food items, including sticky rice, dried or grated coconut, tamarind paste, and meals ordered for delivery.
Prices for goods and services other than food and beverages rose 2.23% from a year earlier, mainly driven by higher fuel and public transport costs.
In July, Thailand’s inflation was the third lowest among ASEAN countries, while Laos led the bloc, followed by the Philippines and Vietnam.
Bank of Thailand governor Vitai Ratanakorn said last week that monetary policy was fully accommodative and appropriate for the economy, Reuters reported.
The central bank last month left its key interest rate unchanged at 1%, saying economic growth was low and uneven. The next rate meeting is on Oct. 28.
The Trade Policy and Strategy Office expects headline inflation to increase in September, with fuel, prepared meals, transport and fresh food expected to put upward pressure on prices.
The Ministry of Commerce has maintained its forecast for average headline inflation in 2026 at 1.5–2.5%, with a midpoint of 2.0%.
In Southeast Asia, Thailand’s GDP last year ranked third behind Indonesia and Singapore, according to the International Monetary Fund.
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