Menu/food prices rising in Thailand

[2/cb]

Let’s not forget that Thailand, and especially Hua Hin, is a wonderful place to be.

[Lost]

Let’s not forget that Thailand, and especially Hua Hin, is a wonderful place to be.

We'll have less of that positivity, thank you.

[PeteC]

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/bus ... kresearch/

BANGKOK — Kasikorn Research Center forecasts that mango sticky rice prices will remain high in 2025, similar to 2024 levels of approximately 138 baht per serving, despite falling mango prices. The research indicates mango prices are declining for the second consecutive year due to increased production and slowing domestic consumption, while other ingredient costs continue to rise....

[404cameljockey]

I'm probably an ignoramus but I don't know why 'mango sticky rice' would be priced by media researchers as an item. It's sticky rice and mango separate on a plate. I know it's a very popular and favourite national dish, but I never see fluctuating khao pad prices quoted in the news when for example egg prices rise! Isn't it better just to say that sticky rice prices are rising? Just asking, don't shoot me.

[buksida]

Soaring prices top latest list of woes in Thailand
Sharply rising consumer prices top the current list of pressing issues people want fixed, according to a survey by the National Statistical Office (NSO).

A recently conducted nationwide poll of families with members aged over 18 found most respondents want the government to prioritise reigning in surging consumer prices, with the Paetongtarn Shinawatra administration set to complete its first six months in office on March 12.

According to government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub, 86% called for direct government intervention, followed by 67% who pressed for continued state subsidies of utility and fuel prices to lower household expenses.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/ge ... st-of-woes

[Big Boy]

Yes, it makes you wonder. I've just asked Google about Thai inflation rates, to which I received the following response:

Thailand inflation rate for 2023 was 1.23%, a 4.85% decline from 2022. Thailand inflation rate for 2022 was. Thailand inflation rate for 2021 was 1.23%, a 2.08% increase from 2020. Thailand inflation rate for 2020 was -0.85%, a 1.55% decline from 2019.

I bought a breakfast yesterday, which this time last year would have cost me 169฿. Yesterday it cost 189฿. That to me indicates an 11.83% increase. Minimum wage doesn't really seem to be increasing, so where does 11.83% come from? I'm sure the person making the 11.83% increase feels fully justified based on outside influences, so who is actually raking in the money? I've already previously stated how much my favoured brand of coffee had increased - 29.85%. I can't think of anything going down in price apart from fuel which has ups and downs, but basically stays the same. I am still paying the same for a litre of diesel as I was when my truck was new, 13 years ago.

If you say it rent prices increasing, which is the usual tale, why aren't such increases factored into Thailand's inflation rate?

Either the number crunchers are very selective in what they include in Thailand's inflation rate, or somebody is talking a lot of lies.

[Dannie Boy]

The one thing you can rely on is the lack of honesty in Thailand - everything is manipulated to suit the circumstances.

I’ve noticed most food items have increased of late - noticeably fresh meat and fruit, some veg and numerous other items, I’m sure a number of them will be double digit % increases in just a few months.

[buksida]

Thailand's "official" inflation rate or "regressive tax" is a lie manufactured by the central bank so that it can keep manipulating interest rates and the currency (to profit commercial banks). It has nothing to do with the actual prices that consumers pay, which are constantly going up, often by double digits, as we've all seen.

[Big Boy]

Of course, it just gives us Farangs something to winge about. Its your average Thai that you have to feel sorry for.

[STEVE G]

Here is what the official view is:

Thailand’s consumer prices fell 0.22% year-on-year in April 2025, reversing a 0.84% rise in March. It marked the first instance of deflation since March 2024 and moved inflation outside the central bank’s target range of 1% to 3%. Prices fell for housing and furnishings (-0.67% vs -0.63% in March), transport (-2.97% vs -0.41%), medical and personal care (-0.72% vs -0.63%), and clothing and footwear (-0.56% vs -0.43%). Additionally, food and non-alcoholic beverages inflation eased to a four-month low (1.63% vs 2.35%), the most heavily weighted component in the index. On a monthly basis, the CPI dropped 0.21%, after falling 0.20% in the previous period. The annual core inflation rate, which excludes volatile items such as food and energy, accelerated to 0.98% from 0.86% in March. source: Bureau of Trade and Economic Indices, Ministry of Commerce, Thailand

https://tradingeconomics.com/thailand/inflation-cpi

[Dannie Boy]

What’s the famous saying “there’s lies, damn lies and statistics” - the figures mean nothing to the people buying goods and services!!

[VincentD]

I can't think of anything going down in price apart from fuel which has ups and downs, but basically stays the same. I am still paying the same for a litre of diesel as I was when my truck was new, 13 years ago.

If you say it rent prices increasing, which is the usual tale, why aren't such increases factored into Thailand's inflation rate?

Either the number crunchers are very selective in what they include in Thailand's inflation rate, or somebody is talking a lot of lies.

Diesel has been subsidised to keep the masses happy. Those subsidies come from raping the other fuel taxes like pure benzine 95. I remember paying 7-8 baht per litre of benzine 95 back in 1992, it is just now reduced to 42 baht from the 45 it was before Songkran. Diesel at the time was basically on par with benzine but the powers that be decided to tax the sh!t out of pure benzine to subsidise gasohol (costs more than benzine to produce, but is priced so much lower) as well as keep the diesel below the 30 baht mark. Been going on for years. #*$!!
Pardon the French.

[STEVE G]

What’s the famous saying “there’s lies, damn lies and statistics” - the figures mean nothing to the people buying goods and services!!

Yes, I know exactly what it costs to live in Thailand, that's why I'm still working full time when I'm over sixty!
To be honest, when I first visited Hua Hin over twenty years ago and saw a Royal Palace, a procession of five star hotels, a load of golf courses and wealthy Thais driving around in black Mercedes cars, it never occurred to me that it might be a cheap place to live.

[Dannie Boy]

I think you can find a happy medium living here - if you have the means and choose the lifestyle it could be expensive to live here, but by the same token you can be selective and live here and spend less than you would in Western Europe.

You and I Steve, have both bought BYD cars that are cheaper here than in Europe- and considerably less than one of those black Mercedes!

[STEVE G]

^Yes, and to get fully back on topic, there are some surprisingly pleasant small restaurants and cafes out near us in Hin Lek Fai where you can still eat well for reasonable money.