Upset PM clarifies inflation remarks | Bangkok Post: learning

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The prime minister says she is upset at how her words on the cost of living were misinterpreted last week as she visited a local market to get first-hand information.

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PM says price remarks 'twisted'

Phusadee Arunmas 
Prasit Tangprasert

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is insisting she was misquoted last week over her comments on inflation and says she does not blame people for believing goods prices have gone up.

During her visit to the Pichai fresh market in Pak Kret district of Nonthaburi province Monday, she said she was upset about reports of her saying that inflation was negligible and that people's perceptions were wrong.

Her eyes grew red when she said she felt hurt about news reports that she had said people's misperceptions were at fault for thinking that goods prices had surged. She had actually said that transport costs and seasonal fluctuations had made people feel product prices were higher than before.

At the fresh market Monday, many vendors told her that goods prices had indeed risen.

A vegetable vendor told her that the price of long beans had soared from 30 baht per kilogramme to 70 baht/kg and the price of A-grade long beans had reached 100 baht/kg.

A chicken egg vendor told the prime minister that the price of chicken eggs had also gone up, but this was because the heat had killed egg-laying chickens.

Ms Yingluck then said that her findings on goods prices at the market were in accordance with reports from the Commerce Ministry and that some products remained expensive but others were cheaper than a year ago.

Although opinion polls found that people were upset with economic stimulus attempts by her government, Ms Yingluck said she would not replace her economic ministers but would let them continue with their work.

To help consumers, the prime minister said she had ordered the Commerce Ministry to sell consumer products at discounts and set up markets without rent for vendors to sell cheaper products to consumers.

At the market in Nonthaburi, she bought vegetables, eggs and other products.

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upset – unhappy or disappointed because of something unpleasant that has happened  ว้าวุ่นใจ, กังวลใจ, ไม่สบายใจ, สับสน
clarify – to make clear ทำให้ชัดแจ้ง
inflation – a general rise in the prices of services and goods in a particular country, resulting in a fall in the value of money  เงินเฟ้อ
remarks – something said คำพูด
vendor – someone who sells something, but not in a shop พ่อค้าแม่ค้าแผงลอย
retail – sold directly to the public for their own use  ขายปลีก
locals – people who live in a particular place ชาวบ้าน
complaint – when someone says that something is wrong or not satisfactory การร้องเรียน
twisted – distorted บิดเบือน
insist – to keep saying very firmly that something is true, even when other people will not believe you ยืนกราน
misquote – to repeat something someone has said in a way that is not accurate อ้างอิงผิด
goods – things that are produced to be sold; possessions that can be moved สินค้า, สิ่งของ
negligible – very small or unimportant ซึ่งไม่สลักสำคัญ
perception – a particular way of understanding or thinking about something ความเข้าใจ
misperception – misconception; a wrong belief or opinion as a result of not understanding something  ความเข้าใจผิด
surge – a sudden increase in something การเพิ่มขึ้นอย่างรวดเร็ว
transport – the process of moving people or things from one place to another การขนส่ง
seasonal – typical of or suitable for the time of year ตามฤดูกาล
fluctuation – changing frequently in size, amount, quality, etc, especially from one extreme to another ความผันผวน, การผันแปร
indeed – used to emphasize a positive statement or answer อย่างแท้จริง, โดยแท้จริงแล้ว
soar – to rise very quickly to a high level มีความหวังสูง,พุ่งพรวดขึ้น
in accordance with– following a rule or system or what someone had said; สอดคล้องกับ
Commerce Ministry – the Thai government ministry focusing on internal and external tarde, ensuring free and fair trade and protecting consumers กระทรวงพาณิชย์
first-hand – gained by doing something yourself, obtained directly from someone who is involved in something โดยตรง, ได้รับโดยตรงด้วยตัวเอง
emerged – came out ปรากฏให้เห็น
brave – to deal with an unpleasant or difficult situation in order to achieve something กล้าที่จะเผชิญกับ
inevitable - unavoidable ซึ่งหลีกเลี่ยงไม่ได้
ambush – an attack on someone after hiding and waiting for them, in this case, it was reporters who were waiting การซุ่มโจมตี (จากตำแหน่งที่ซ่อนอยู่)
poll – an occasion when a lot of people are asked about what they feel about something – การสำรวจความคิดเห็น
stimulus – a set of programmes, especially government spending programmes, designed to start an economy growing again แผนกระตุ้นหรือฟื้นฟูเศรษฐกิจ
replace – to put a new person or thing in the place of someone or something แทน
consumer – someone who buys and uses goods and services ผู้บริโภค
discount – a reduced price or rate การลดราคา
rent – paying money for the use of something for a period of time  ค่าเช่า