Industrial confidence index lowest in 4 years

Vice Chairman Adisak Rohitasune said the confidence in July usually declined to the lowest level every year because of rainy season and less consumption in domestic market.

However, the index recorded at the lowest level for the past four years should be caused by the country's economic slowdown and the baht's strength, affecting exporters in this sector. Meanwhile, business operators cannot raise product prices despite higher production cost because they face tough competition with other countries.

In July, what worried export-oriented manufacturers the most was the unstable baht, while doemstic companies were concerned dramatically on slowdown consumption and the political unstability. 

The survey covered 471 samples from 35 industrial groups under the FTI.

Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul

The Nation