December private consumption down, investment up m-o-m: BoT

December private consumption down, investment up m-o-m: BoT

Private consumption contracted in December from the previous month while investment rose slightly, central bank indexes showed on Wednesday, suggesting that a recovery in the economy is still patchy.

The Bank of Thailand's (BoT) private consumption index for December fell 0.4% from November, when it rose 0.2%. 

The index for private investment rose 0.2% in December from the previous month, when it rose 0.4%. 

The BoT said there was a current account surplus of 121 billion baht in December, after a 166 billion baht surplus in November. 

Exports, based on financial settlements, rose 9.3% in December from a year earlier after November's 12.3% rise. 

BoT senior director Don Nakornthab said the economy might have expanded 4% in 2017, with annual growth in the final quarter likely close to the third quarter's 4.3% pace. 

Official 2017 GDP data is due on Feb 19. 

Growth in 2016 was 3.2%. For this year, the BoT has forecast a 3.9% expansion.


Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT

Don Mueang expansion ready to begin

Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) says it is ready to begin work on a 36.8-billion-baht plan to expand the low-cost terminal at Don Mueang Airport to increase passenger capacity and boost tourism income.

15:09

China travel rebound bets turn toward airports

SINGAPORE: Investors hoping to cash in on a boom in Chinese travel after nearly three years of coronavirus pandemic lockdowns are shifting into airports, hotels and duty-free operators and away from airlines subject to fluctuating fuel prices and more intense competition.

14:40

Malaysia plans to end life sentencing in slew of prison reforms

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia plans to do away with life imprisonment and drop capital punishment for six offenses, as the new government seeks to reform the Southeast Asian nation’s criminal justice system.

13:37