Retail sales in Thailand are expected to improve in the second half and show 6-7 percent full-year growth from THB1 trillion (USD31.44 billion) last year as consumers regain confidence, says a trade group.
Busaba Chirathivat, president of the Thai Retailers Association (TRA), said retail business slowed in the first half on domestic uncertainty, resulting in a lacklustre environment for consumer spending. First-half retail sales grew by 4.6 percent.
Unfavourable economic and political factors in the first few months led to a sales decline of 4.5 percent in durable goods, 3 percent in semi-durable goods and 5 percent in non-durable or consumable goods.
(Source: Bangkok Post)