The Commerce Ministry has asked producers of consumer goods to hold prices at their current level for six months, to help Thais cope with the overall cost of living.
Santichai Sarathawalpat, the deputy director general of the Internal Trade Department announced that the department would soon issue a notice to retailers and producers of consumer goods, asking them to refrain from increasing prices from May to October 2014.
Currently, 205 different types of goods are sold under the Department’s price-control policy, ranging from staple food to other products in daily use. The ministry has told these producers they must make a formal request to the department before they can increase their prices.
Department stores would be asked to lower prices at their food centers by 5-10 baht per dish. The department hopes to see the campaign get started during May.
Earlier, the ministry said the country’s consumer price index (CPI) rose by 2.45 percent in April 2014 compared to the same month last year, which is the highest level in 12 months. The spike in April was due to the rising cost of both food and energy.
Source: http://thainews.prd.go.th/centerweb/newsen/NewsDetail?NT01_NewsID=WNECO5705030010001