Vegetarian festival spending to hit 6-year high of ฿46.9bn

Today 10:26 Key points summarised by AI

The upcoming vegetarian festival is projected to reach a six-year high in spending, totaling ฿46.91 billion, despite an anticipated 11-year low in overall participant numbers.
This spending surge is primarily fueled by higher food prices and a significant 7% year-on-year increase in average spending per person, reaching a record ฿5,576.
Consumer behavior is evolving, with fewer people observing the strict 10-day diet; however, a growing interest in plant-based trends, health, and merit-making continues to drive festival turnover.
Despite economic concerns and expensive food deterring some participation, government stimulus measures like 'Thai Chuay Thai Plus' are helping to bolster sales and mitigate economic pressure for businesses.

TPSO raises 2026 inflation forecast to 1.8–2.2% amid surge in energy prices

Today 11:06 Key points summarised by AI

The Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) has increased its annual inflation forecast to 1.8–2.2% from 1.5–2.5%, primarily due to escalating energy prices from the Middle East conflict and higher food production costs.
September's Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 2.82% year-on-year, marking the sixth consecutive month of increases, largely driven by persistent high fuel prices and rising costs for finished food products.
Inflation is anticipated to continue its upward trajectory in October, mainly propelled by surging fuel prices, with regional variations showing the southern region experiencing the highest rate at 3.32%.