M   O   C           N   E   W   S

Consumer Price Index and Core Consumer Price Index

  August  2008

      From the prices of goods and services surveys of 374 items all across of the country, covering food and beverages, clothing, housing and furnish, health and personal care services, transportation and communication, recreation and education, etc, The Ministry of Commerce reported movement of on headline Consumer Price Index and core Consumer Price Index of Thailand in June 2008 as follows:

       1. Headline Consumer price Index in August 2008
       As of the base year (2002=100), the headline CPI in August 2008 was 124.2 and in July 2008 was128.1
      
       2. The percentage change of the headline CPI in July 2008, compared with
       2.1. July 2008 (month on month), fell by 3.0
       2.2. August 2007 (year on year), increased by 6.4
       2.3. Average rate on the first eight months of 2008 (Jan.-Aug.), compared with the same period in 2007, increased by 6.7
      
       3. Headline CPI in August 2008, compared with July 2008 decreased dramatically due to the continued decrease in global oil prices and the government's package of six relief measures such as excise tax cuts on gasohol and diesel which came into effect on 25 July 2008. Furthermore, most of the six measures were effective in August 2008 including reduction of water charges and electricity charges, offering free rides for all third class trains and for half of all non air conditioned buses.
       3.1. The index for food and beverages group rose by 1.7. This was primarily due to 5.6 percent increase in the index of vegetables and fruits such as kale, chinese cabbage, coriander, cabbage, lemon, chili, orange, mango and durian, etc. This was caused by high demand during Sart Chin Day and out of season period. Besides, prepared food index expanded by 1.2 along with the higher in the index of fish and aquatic animals by 1.1 percent. However, prices of rice, flour and cereal products adjusted lower gradually.
       3.2. The index for non-food group declined sharply by 6.2, slowing down significantly from the previous month. This was because by further decrease in global prices of oil and excise tax cuts for gasohol and diesel, resulting in a reduction of fuel index by 15 percent. Altogether, benzene and diesel prices were reduced for 3 times and 7 times respectively. According to Six Measures Six Months policy, water charges fell by 59.2, electricity charges dropped by 37.8, bus fares were down by 5.3 and train fares decreased by 23.7 percent.
      
       4. Headline CPI (year on year basis) compared with August 2007 picked up by 6.4, decelerating from the preceding month. This was mainly because of 29 percent higher in fuel index which contributed to an increase in non-food and beverages index by 1.4.
       For food and beverages group, the index went up by 14.3 and main components are the increase in rice, flour, and cereal products, vegetables and fruits, meats, and seasoning and condiments index accounted 30.2, 19.0, 17.8 and 16.2 percent respectively.
      
       5. Average Headline CPI in the first eight months of 2008 (Jan.-Aug.) increased by 6.7 and the main factors were a surge in gasoline prices by 32.5 percent. The index for food and beverages group went up by 9.9 and the index for non-food group grew by 4.6.
      
       6. Core Consumer Price Index (computed from 266 items of goods and services) is the headline CPI, excluding fresh food and energy group, totaled 108 items. These exclusion items account 24 percent of total expenditure.
       Core CPI in August 2008 was 108.5, compared with
       6.1. July 2008, decreased by 0.9
       6.2. August 2007, increased by 2.7
       6.3. Average rate on the first eight months of 2008 (Jan.-Aug.) compared with the same period in 2007, increased by 2.4
       The decrease in core CPI had been contributed by the reduction of water charges and public transportation fares.
      
       -----------------------------------------
       Consumer Price Index Group
       Bureau of Trade and Economic Indices
       1 September 2008
      
      

    

  Consumer Price Index and Core Consumer Price Index
  August   2008  
(2002=100)  

Code
Group and Subgroup
Relative Importance of base year
Index
Average Index
Percentage change
 Aug. 08
July08
Aug.07
Jan.-Aug.08
Jan.-Aug.07
Aug. 08/
July 08
Aug.08/
Aug.07
 Jan.- Aug.08/
Jan.- Aug.07
0000
  ALL COMMODITIES
100.00   
124.2
128.1
116.7
124.0
116.2
-3.0
  6.4
  6.7
1000
  FOOD AND BEVERAGES
  36.06   
141.4
139.1
123.7
135.1
122.9
  1.7
14.3
  9.9
1110
       RICE, FLOUR AND CEREAL PRODUCTS
  2.68   
174.6
178.3
134.1
158.4
130.7
-2.1
30.2
21.2
1120
       MEATS, POULTRY AND FISH
  5.32   
140.9
139.5
124.6
137.3
121.7
  1.0
13.1
12.8
1121
       MEATS
  2.17   
137.9
137.2
117.1
136.8
113.4
  0.5
17.8
20.6
1122
       DUCK, CHICKEN AND FROG
  .86   
146.5
143.8
126.3
139.3
118.9
  1.9
16.0
17.2
1123
       FISH AND AQUATIC ANIMALS
  2.29   
141.6
140.0
131.0
137.2
130.6
  1.1
  8.1
  5.1
1130
       EGGS AND DAIRY PRODUCTS
  2.23   
127.6
126.8
116.3
125.8
112.8
  0.6
  9.7
11.5
1140
       VEGETABLES AND FRUITS
  4.77   
232.7
220.4
195.6
221.0
198.8
  5.6
19.0
11.2
1150
       SEASONINGS AND CONDIMENTS
  1.79   
133.2
132.9
114.6
127.3
112.5
  0.2
16.2
13.2
1160
       NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
  1.55   
112.1
111.5
108.0
110.8
107.8
  0.5
  3.8
  2.8
1200
    PREPARED FOOD
  17.71   
118.3
116.9
106.7
113.0
106.3
  1.2
10.9
  6.3
1210
       PREPARED FOOD AT HOME
  7.03   
123.0
121.5
110.0
117.4
109.1
  1.2
11.8
  7.6
1220
       FOOD AWAY FROM HOME
  10.68   
115.7
114.3
104.9
110.6
104.8
  1.2
10.3
  5.5
2000
  APPAREL AND FOOTWARE
  3.40   
101.5
101.5
101.1
101.4
101.0
  0.0
  0.4
  0.4
3000
  HOUSING AND FURNISHING
  23.86   
  94.6
104.0
103.3
102.6
103.5
-9.0
-8.4
 -0.9
3100
    SHELTER
  16.74   
  99.4
  99.3
  98.8
  99.1
  98.8
  0.1
  0.6
  0.3
3110
       HOUSE RENT
  16.25   
  99.1
  99.1
  98.7
  98.9
  98.7
  0.0
  0.4
  0.2
3200
    ELECTRICITY, FUEL AND WATER SUPPLY
  5.10   
  70.2
114.5
115.0
109.8
116.1
-38.7
-39.0
-5.4
3300
    TEXTILE - HOUSE FURNISHING
  .18   
100.9
100.9
100.7
100.8
100.6
  0.0
  0.2
  0.2
3600
    CLEANIMG SUPPLIES
  1.39   
120.3
120.0
112.9
116.1
112.8
  0.3
  6.6
  2.9
4000
  MEDICAL AND PERSONAL CARE
  6.04   
107.8
107.7
106.7
107.4
106.5
  0.1
  1.0
  0.8
4100
    MEDICAL CARE
  2.36   
107.8
107.8
107.2
107.5
106.9
  0.0
  0.6
  0.6
4200
    PERSONAL CARE EXPENDITURES
  3.25   
108.0
107.9
106.5
107.5
106.4
  0.1
  1.4
  1.0
5000
  TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION
  21.98   
143.7
155.6
130.5
144.8
129.7
-7.6
10.1
11.6
5100
    PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
  4.51   
144.0
150.8
143.5
147.3
143.4
-4.5
  0.3
  2.7
5200
    VEHICLES AND VEHICLE OPERATION
  10.59   
173.4
194.8
146.0
174.0
144.2
-11.0
18.8
20.7
5400
    COMMUNICATION AND EQUIPMENTS
  5.59   
  91.7
  91.7
  92.1
  91.8
  92.2
  0.0
 -0.4
 -0.4
6000
  RECREATION AND EDUCATION
  5.82   
106.3
106.3
105.0
105.9
104.2
  0.0
  1.2
  1.6
7000
  TOBACCO AND ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
  2.83   
113.8
113.7
109.8
113.5
109.5
  0.1
  3.6
  3.7
8000
  NON-FOOD AND BEVERAGES
  63.94   
114.2
121.7
112.6
117.5
112.3
-6.2
  1.4
  4.6
9000
  RAW FOOD AND ENERGY
  24.05   
172.9
186.0
151.0
173.8
149.7
-7.0
14.5
16.1
9100
    RAW FOOD
  15.00   
173.4
169.5
147.0
165.3
145.9
  2.3
18.0
13.3
9200
    ENERGY
  9.05   
172.0
213.1
157.5
187.9
156.1
-19.3
  9.2
20.4
9300
    EXCLUDE RAW FOOD AND ENERGY
  75.95   
108.5
109.5
105.6
107.9
105.4
 -0.9
  2.7
  2.4
footnote : The core consumer price index is the consumer price index excluding raw food and energy items.    

Directed by Trade and Economic Indices Bureau, Ministry of Commerce Tel. 662 507 5846-55 Fax. 662 507 5825
Hotine : 662 5077000  http://www.price.moc.go.th Select to subject Consumer Price Index