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Bangkok Post
Bangkok Post
Business

Thailand sees 2% growth and 3% inflation in 2026: central bank chief

People shop at Bang Kapi Market in Bangkok on June 1, the first day of the ‘Thais Help Thais Plus’ campaign. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)

The Thai economy is expected to grow 2% ​this year, Bank of Thailand (BoT) governor Vitai Ratanakorn told a news briefing on Tuesday.

Headline inflation was expected to reach 3% this year and then was ​expected to ⁠ease next year, he told reporters.

For 2027, growth was seen at 1.7% and headline inflation at ‌1.4%, the central bank said in a statement.

The annual inflation rate rose to 2.89% in April, ⁠the highest rate in more than three years, due to higher energy costs.

Exports this year are expected to grow by 12% to 13%, and the trade balance ​may return to surplus in the fourth quarter, Mr Vitai said.

He said key ​rates would ‌remain unchanged unless the situation changes.

The government has launched a 176 billion baht (US$5.4 billion) ​consumer ⁠subsidy scheme, under which it will subsidise 60% of the prices of ⁠certain goods to ease the cost of living.

Last month, Mr Vitai said growth was expected to hit 2.1% this year. ⁠He has previously forecast growth ​of 1.6% for 2027.

The BoT held its policy rate steady at 1.00% at a review in April. The ‌next rate meeting ⁠is on June ​24.

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