Sentiment up for fifth month

Business sentiment rose for the fifth straight month in October, boosted by improving economic prospects, stimulus packages to prop up year-end consumer spending, and lower domestic retail oil prices.

The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) said the TCC Confidence Index, which gauges the sentiment of the business sector and members of the Thai Chamber of Commerce in all provinces nationwide, rose to 33.2 in October, up from 32.5 in September, 32.3 in August, 31.8 in July and 31.5 in June, the first year-on-year increase in 14 months.

This followed readings of 31.3 in May, 32.1 in April, 37.5 in March, 44.9 in February and 45.4 in January.

“Higher business sentiment stems largely from a host of government stimulus packages, such as the co-payment programme, the ‘We Travel Together’ programme, and the ‘Shop and Payback’ tax rebate scheme. The latest…