ABAC Poll :Thais feeling economy picking up

BANGKOK, June 12 (TNA) – More Thai people feel that the overall economy has picked up and consumers are expecting to earn higher incomes, according to a survey by the Assumption University ABAC Poll.

Noppadol Kannikar, director of the ABAC Research Center, said that the survey conducted with people in 1,237 households of 17 provinces showed most respondents — almost 90 per cent — kept up with news coverage.

The number of people who believed the country’s economy had begun recovering in the past 30 days increased from 5.6 per cent in April to 11.8 per cent in May and 17.4 per cent in June

However, more than 80 per cent of respondents believed the overall economy remains terrible.

Asked about incomes earned at present, the survey found the number of respondents who said they earned enviable incomes increased from 21.9 per cent in April to 34.4 per cent in May and 38.9 per cent in June while those who said they earned lower incomes dropped to 61.1 per cent from 78.1 per cent.

The poll found the number of people who felt secure in their current jobs rose from 49.5 per cent in April to 56.1 per cent in June.

Asked about their intentions to make major purchases in the next six months, the survey showed that consumers who intended to buy electrical appliances such as refrigerators and televisions rose from 13.1 per cent in April to 21.9 per cent in June.

At the same time, the number of people who planned to buy new cars and homes climbed from 6.5 and 6.6 per cent to 11.3 and 10.4 per cent respectively. (TNA)