Economic Conditions

Press Release on Economic and Monetary Conditions

Dr.Pornpen Sodsrichai, Director, Monetary Policy Group, Overall economic activities In April 2017, the Thai economy continued to expand. The main growth drivers were continued expansions in merchandise exports and tourism sector, consistent with the steady improvement in external demand. Private consumption gained traction, particularly for spending on the services sector. Private investment remained at a similar level as the previous month. However, manufacturing production contracted from the same period last year due mainly to slowdown in production in the automotive sector. Meanwhile, public spending contracted especially in capital spending, after having accelerated in earlier periods.

Business Outlook Report

To enhance the economic forecasting efficiency and assist the MPC in making appropriate monetary policy decisions by providing some insights and useful information which cannot be captured by the econometric model, which is inevitably subjects to the theoretical constraints and structural model of quantitative analysis. Therefore, the Bank of Thailand has set up the Economic/Business Information Exchange Program as one channel for exchanging information and building better understanding about Thailand's economic conditions, both at macro and micro level, with private sector.

Credit Conditions Report

The Bank of Thailand conducts a quarterly credit condition survey to review opinions of senior loan officers from financial institutions, credit card and personal loan companies under supervision (Non-banks). It helps the Bank to be more efficiently and effectively in understanding and analysing developments of credit conditions. The Bank has been exploring how the surveys are conducted in the light of other central banks' experience.