The Consumer confidence index (CCI) for March was up for the sixth straight month to stand at 84.8, against 84.0 in February, the Economic and Business Forecasting Centre at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce said on Thursday.
Confidence in the overall economy for the month stood at 75.0, job opportunity at 76.4 and future income at 102.9, according to the centre.
However, the consumer confidence index still remains below 100, showing that consumers had less confidence in the economic system, the report said.
The positive factors that boosted confidence included the decline in fuel pump prices, the 19.48 points rise in the March SET main index, the baht’s appreciation, the two-trillion-baht infrastructure loan bill passing its first reading in parliament, and introduction of the nationwide 300 baht daily minimum wage.
The negative factors were a 5.8% decline in exports for February, with a US$1.5 billion trade deficit, the uncertainty in global economic recovery, particularly in Europe, a concern over a possible energy crisis from April 5-14, the rapidly strengthening baht, political uncertainty and concerns over the continuing unrest in the deep South.