Mr Thanavath said the centre’s recent surveys showed that consumer confidence had now risen for five straight months and was at its highest level since August 2011, a total of 19 months.
He attributed the increase in consumer confidence to the announcement by the National Economic and Social Development Board that growth in gross domestic product for the fourth quarter of last year was as high as 18.9 per cent, the highest in history.
The decision by the monetary policy committee of the bank of Thailand to maintain the key policy rate unchanged at 2.75 per cent; the 16.1 per cent export expansion in January; the baht’s appreciation; the B300 daily minimum wage and continuing government stimulus measures were also factors behind the improvement in consumer confidence.