The Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) dropped in January to 71.5 points, from 73.4 points in December, the rector of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said on Thursday.
Saowanee Thairungroj said overall confidence in the economy during the month fell to 61.4 points. Confidence in job opportunities dropped to 65.1 points and confidence in people's future income went down to 88.1 points.
All consumer confidence indices were down for the tenth month in a row and hit a 26-month low not seen since December 2011, she said.
An index below 100 points indicates low consumer confidence.
Negative factors that eroded confidence included concerns about political turmoil and the invocation of emergency law in Bangkok and nearby provinces, which affected consumer confidence and the country’s image in the international community, she said.
Ms Saowanee added that the failure of the caretaker government to make rice-pledging payments to farmers, the central bank slashing its growth projection for 2013 to below 3%, the weakening baht, and uncertainty in the global economic recovery are also damaging confidence.
However, positive factors include the central bank monetary policy committee decision to keep its key policy rate unchanged at 2.25% and the stable domestic retail price of fuel.