Poll: Economic confidence down

Poll: Economic confidence down

Economists' confidence in the overall economic outlook for the next three to six months has fallen, Bangkok Poll reported on Thursday.

The Research Centre at Bangkok University, or Bangkok Poll, said opinions on the performance of the economy were sought from 62 economists at the country’s 32 leading economic organisations between July 15 and 24.

The pollster said the index measuring economists’ confidence in the current economy stood at 34.4 points, down from 39.3 points the previous month, and below 50 points, indicating weak confidence overall. Economic confidence for the next three months also fell from the previous poll to stand at 41.50 points.

Negative factors cited by respondents included declines in private investment, domestic consumption and exports, and delays in government investment.

Tourism was the only sector in which the economists had high confidence in its strong growth potential.

Despite this, economists reported a confidence index of 55.27 points for the next six months, higher than the 50 point level, reflecting projections that the economy will improve soon, boosted by an expansion in the tourism sector and the government’s investment in development megaprojects.

The survey also showed that the economists believe the economic slowdown would come to an end in January 2014.

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