Majority doubt govt can fix problem of high goods prices: poll

Majority doubt govt can fix problem of high goods prices: poll

A vendor sells pork cuts at a market in Yaowarat on Jan 13, 2022. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)
A vendor sells pork cuts at a market in Yaowarat on Jan 13, 2022. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)

A large majority of people doubt the government can solve the problem of high consumer goods prices, with more than a third saying they could withstand the inflated pricetags for less than three months, according to an opinion survey by Suan Dusit Rajabhat University, or Suan Dusit Poll.

The poll was conducted online between Jan 24-27 on 1,383 people throughout the country to compile their opinions on the soaring prices of goods -- including pork, eggs and other food -- raising the cost of living.

Asked which goods are now unusually expensive, with each respondent allowed to give more than one answer, 92.75% chose pork; 74,24% fast food via delivery; 71.79% eggs; 57.07% vegetable oil; and 56.13% chicken meat.

Asked why they thought prices have risen, 65.02% blamed it on communicable diseases in animals; 64.22% hoarding and price manipulation; and 63.13% profiteering by traders.

Asked how they were coping with the high goods prices, 77.20 said they were controlling their spending; 66.67% cutting down consumption of goods with high prices; and 57.37% looking for cheaper alternatives.

A large majority, 82.69%, said they were not confident the government would be able to solve the problem -- with 47.27% having little confidence and 35.42% having no confidence at all. On the other side, 15.27% said they were fairly confident in the government could fix the problem and 2.04% were very confident.

Asked how long they thought they could withstand the high prices, 34.93% chose less than three months; 28.53% less than six months; 18.56% less than one month; and 17.98% more than six months.

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