Thailand's consumer confidence plunged to a five-year low in February, hit by an uncertain political outlook and fears over escalating violence in the country's restive south, researchers said Thursday.
The consumer confidence index dropped to 79.0 points, the lowest since April 2002, from 79.9 points in January, according to the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.
The index has been mired below 100, which indicates pessimism among consumers, for 32 straight months, it said.
"Consumers have become worried about political instability and escalating violence in the south," pollster Thanawat Phonvichai said, referring to the three-year unrest in the Muslim-majority region that has killed some 2,000.
Thanawat said the strong Thai baht, up nearly 12 per cent from a year earlier against the dollar, also depressed consumer sentiment.
"The strong Thai baht is set to hurt exports which will eventually affect economic growth while the government has failed to introduce measures to stimulate the economy," he said.
The strong baht makes Thai exports less competitive in overseas markets and cuts the value of companies' repatriated profits.
Thailand's economy, under pressure from last year's coup, is likely to slow this year after posting modest 5.0 per cent growth in 2006, the government's economic think tank said Tuesday.
The economy in the fourth quarter of 2006 grew by just 4.2 per cent, down from 4.7 per cent in the third, sparking concern over an economic slump in the upcoming quarters.
Thailand's political outlook remained uncertain as a host of policy blunders by the army-installed government, including its inability to arrest suspects of deadly New Year's Eve bombings in Bangkok, sapped its earlier public support.
The university also forecast that consumer spending would remain sluggish in the first half of this year.
The index is based on a sample of 2,235 people nationwide.
Source : The Nation
Thai consumer confidence plunges to five-year low
Thai consumer confidence plunges to five-year low
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Thai consumer confidence plunges to five-year low
2,235 people!?!? They really went for an extensive study on this one.The index is based on a sample of 2,235 people nationwide.
Burger
Yep ... 0.003725% of the population said ....
That aside, recessions do tend to be cyclical ... didn't the year of the last one have a seven in it? Where are my lottery tickets, fortune cookies, tea leaves, ah Big Mac wrappers dammit!
That aside, recessions do tend to be cyclical ... didn't the year of the last one have a seven in it? Where are my lottery tickets, fortune cookies, tea leaves, ah Big Mac wrappers dammit!
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
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The understudy
- Ace
- Posts: 1293
- Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2003 12:16 pm
- Location: Hua Hin, Bangkok, Berlin, L. A. rotating
Hui there Y'all
I think this Survey is to be seen demographically rather than the masses of people that had been asked.
My sister works for a Consumer Research Company in the US where she and her fellow Team mates devellop the questioneers asked by Companies which do those Polls on their products, sevices ect. And later her Company does the analysis of the answers.
Those 2235 People asked are a so called "crossection" of The population of Thailand which all Sections of Society are represented. This can be applied to the sentiment of Thailand as a whole. These poeple are questioned generally over the phone @ random basis so everybody could be asked. you could also refuse to be questioned then they leave you alone. and ask another persoin.
My sister told me that after a Poll has been taken another one is right in the pipeline to be asked in the Summer so that continuality is Guarraneed.
Your's the understudy
I think this Survey is to be seen demographically rather than the masses of people that had been asked.
My sister works for a Consumer Research Company in the US where she and her fellow Team mates devellop the questioneers asked by Companies which do those Polls on their products, sevices ect. And later her Company does the analysis of the answers.
Those 2235 People asked are a so called "crossection" of The population of Thailand which all Sections of Society are represented. This can be applied to the sentiment of Thailand as a whole. These poeple are questioned generally over the phone @ random basis so everybody could be asked. you could also refuse to be questioned then they leave you alone. and ask another persoin.
My sister told me that after a Poll has been taken another one is right in the pipeline to be asked in the Summer so that continuality is Guarraneed.
Your's the understudy
In Love with Hua Hin since 19naughty9 and it ain't fading!!!
(My fable for All Things Japanese knows no boundaries!) Proud Student of Stamford University Hua Hin Campus from 1999 to 2004 (5th Batch of Graduates.)
“Once you survive Stamford U Hua Hin Campus only you can survive anything!!!”
(My fable for All Things Japanese knows no boundaries!) Proud Student of Stamford University Hua Hin Campus from 1999 to 2004 (5th Batch of Graduates.)
“Once you survive Stamford U Hua Hin Campus only you can survive anything!!!”
My God, Thailand has telemarketing or at least the beginning stages of computer randon selection of phone numbers to perform these polls.The understudy wrote: Those 2235 People asked are a so called "crossection" of The population of Thailand which all Sections of Society are represented. This can be applied to the sentiment of Thailand as a whole. These poeple are questioned generally over the phone @ random basis so everybody could be asked. you could also refuse to be questioned then they leave you alone. and ask another persoin.
No one has ever called me. What happens if a farang answers? Do they hang up, or listen to what they have to say?
Since we spend more money than the average here (by far), we NEED TO BE HEARD!!! Or, perhaps we are not a "crossection" of the population of Thailand?, Nor a "section of society".
Who am I?....I have no identity here...HELP! Just a little fishy, swimming in the pool, glub, glub, glub, yes sir, yes sir MIB, three bags full...OK. 
Pete 
I think you'd lose them with the 'pub' word. They may think it means public urban betterment?, Which in a way it does, us happy farangs roaming around, only tripping on every other lose slap of sidewalk concrete, dodging MC taxis and having a jolly old time laughing at it all, and adding a percent or two to their GDP.STEVE G wrote:I'd tell them that I was so depressed by my lack of consumer confidence, I was spending all my money down the pub!What happens if a farang answers? Do they hang up, or listen to what they have to say?
Pete -
The understudy
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- Location: Hua Hin, Bangkok, Berlin, L. A. rotating
Hi there
Pete you asked what happens if a farang answers the Phone? Well a friend of Mine who's an american and married to his Thai Miss had such an expirience which happens not often. He picks up the phone and there was a student voice asking him in Thai if he wants to make a Survey conducted by Chulalongkorn Poll Group. He answered with his little Thai that he can and they murmured real quiet "Expat Korb Krua" before the student came back and asked for his Wife. Other Expats who got called by those Poll groups and lived alone got hung up on as you rightfully stated Pete "My God, Thailand has telemarketing or at least the beginning stages of computer randon selection of phone numbers to perform these polls." The Computers have only the numbers but not Names and adresses. SO eally in their stone ages. or Telemarketing Computers 1970's US standard.
"we NEED TO BE HEARD!!! Or, perhaps we are not a "crossection" of the population of Thailand?, Nor a "section of society". Who am I?....I have no identity here...HELP! Just a little fishy, swimming in the pool, glub, glub, glub, yes sir, yes sir MIB." I can understand your resentment Pete as I can tell you from what I know from a relative of mine that only 5 to 8 Percent of Expats with a business or retirement Visa's are categorised as "section of Society." The rest are diplomats, tourists, or Visa run In's and unregistered Expats I'm pretty sure the number of expats who live here is close to 12 to 15 Procent. as in some pats in Isarn there are Villages which Thai Misses are all married to Foreigners.
I
Pete you asked what happens if a farang answers the Phone? Well a friend of Mine who's an american and married to his Thai Miss had such an expirience which happens not often. He picks up the phone and there was a student voice asking him in Thai if he wants to make a Survey conducted by Chulalongkorn Poll Group. He answered with his little Thai that he can and they murmured real quiet "Expat Korb Krua" before the student came back and asked for his Wife. Other Expats who got called by those Poll groups and lived alone got hung up on as you rightfully stated Pete "My God, Thailand has telemarketing or at least the beginning stages of computer randon selection of phone numbers to perform these polls." The Computers have only the numbers but not Names and adresses. SO eally in their stone ages. or Telemarketing Computers 1970's US standard.
"we NEED TO BE HEARD!!! Or, perhaps we are not a "crossection" of the population of Thailand?, Nor a "section of society". Who am I?....I have no identity here...HELP! Just a little fishy, swimming in the pool, glub, glub, glub, yes sir, yes sir MIB." I can understand your resentment Pete as I can tell you from what I know from a relative of mine that only 5 to 8 Percent of Expats with a business or retirement Visa's are categorised as "section of Society." The rest are diplomats, tourists, or Visa run In's and unregistered Expats I'm pretty sure the number of expats who live here is close to 12 to 15 Procent. as in some pats in Isarn there are Villages which Thai Misses are all married to Foreigners.
I
In Love with Hua Hin since 19naughty9 and it ain't fading!!!
(My fable for All Things Japanese knows no boundaries!) Proud Student of Stamford University Hua Hin Campus from 1999 to 2004 (5th Batch of Graduates.)
“Once you survive Stamford U Hua Hin Campus only you can survive anything!!!”
(My fable for All Things Japanese knows no boundaries!) Proud Student of Stamford University Hua Hin Campus from 1999 to 2004 (5th Batch of Graduates.)
“Once you survive Stamford U Hua Hin Campus only you can survive anything!!!”
farang opinions
Most Farangs in Thailand contribute towards the economy of the country and they should be able to make their voice heard and counted...unlike in Europe and especially the UK where refugees and economic migrants can pretty much dictates what they want....Not an unfair request especially when we are bringing so much currency at a much needed time in Thailand..saying this i wished in the UK the goverment like the Thai government (well it seems!)tried to protect the interest of its people...
[quote="Burger"][quote]
As a Spurs fan I fell for the 'year ends in 1' thing.
That didn't last long!!!
Burger[/quote]
1961,1971,1981,1991.
Come on Burgher thats 4 decades.Saw the first one in Black and white,second and third in colour but the 4th I had to listen to on the world service,160n ft up the derrick on the Drilling barge Searex 6 in trhe mangrove swamps off Warri,Nigeria.Naturally it was rainng as ever in Nigeria.
3 games in 4 days now lies ahead for us so come on you spurs
As a Spurs fan I fell for the 'year ends in 1' thing.
That didn't last long!!!
Burger[/quote]
1961,1971,1981,1991.
Come on Burgher thats 4 decades.Saw the first one in Black and white,second and third in colour but the 4th I had to listen to on the world service,160n ft up the derrick on the Drilling barge Searex 6 in trhe mangrove swamps off Warri,Nigeria.Naturally it was rainng as ever in Nigeria.
3 games in 4 days now lies ahead for us so come on you spurs
Does residency status give you voting rights???Winkie wrote:Then perhaps its fair to include Farang that have 'Permanent Resident 'Status, and of course, who can be successfully interviewed in Thai Language.
if you cannot read Thai then its pointless anyway, unless you get it transcribed, think of the cost.