Although headline inflation has slowed But it is still necessary to keep an eye on the prices of products in the basic category which could gradually increase continuously. Although inflation in November slowed compared to the prices of fresh food, vegetables and fruit alike after the flood problem receded. Including the effect of the foundation in the previous year which started to increase.
But taking into account the core inflation rate, prices were found to have risen by 0.13% (MoM) from the previous month, accelerating from 0.05% (MoM) in October due to the gradual increase in food prices, including convenience to be consumed food and beverage prices, non-alcoholic beverages and non-food categories such as clothing and footwear Personal treatment and service category of the price of personal items. and public ticket prices, etc., which reflect the cost of pass-through by operators, which resulted in product prices continuing to increase continuously in line with the high cost situation.
However, Krungthai COMPASS also keeps an eye on electricity costs which may tend to increase. This will affect inflation in 2023 as the cost of electricity generation may increase in line with the cost of importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the world market to replace natural gas in the Gulf of Thailand and from Myanmar. which have more expensive import costs This should affect the cost of electricity production which is increasing.
Therefore, as a result, the electricity bill for the period January – April 2023 may increase to 5.37 baht / unit from the current level of 4.72 baht / unit (cost of electricity for the period September – December 2022). Electricity, which is expected to increase by around 13.8% since January 2023, affects inflation by around 0.5% The side is still at a high level.
Article by Chonnitit Chaisingthong, Krungthai COMPASS….
