Thailand Personal Spending Falls at Softer Pace

2026-04-30 08:29 By Czyrill Jean Coloma 1 min. read

Private consumption in Thailand fell 0.8% month-on-month in March 2026, easing from a 1.8% fall in the previous month.

Still, this marked a second consecutive monthly decline, driven largely by weaker spending on services, particularly hotels and restaurants amid subdued tourism activties.

Consumption of semi-durable goods also decreased, weighed down by reduced imports of textiles and apparel as well as softer retail sales.

In contrast, spending on non-durable goods increased, supported by higher purchases of fuel and consumer goods, as households responded to concerns over rising prices.

Spending on durable goods also rose, underpinned by strong passenger car sales.

Meanwhile, consumer confidence weakened, reflecting heightened concerns over spillovers from geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, particularly the risk of higher energy prices, which could add upward pressure to production and transportation costs.



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Thailand Personal Spending Falls at Softer Pace
Private consumption in Thailand fell 0.8% month-on-month in March 2026, easing from a 1.8% fall in the previous month. Still, this marked a second consecutive monthly decline, driven largely by weaker spending on services, particularly hotels and restaurants amid subdued tourism activties. Consumption of semi-durable goods also decreased, weighed down by reduced imports of textiles and apparel as well as softer retail sales. In contrast, spending on non-durable goods increased, supported by higher purchases of fuel and consumer goods, as households responded to concerns over rising prices. Spending on durable goods also rose, underpinned by strong passenger car sales. Meanwhile, consumer confidence weakened, reflecting heightened concerns over spillovers from geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, particularly the risk of higher energy prices, which could add upward pressure to production and transportation costs.
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