BANGKOK — Thailand’s recent negative inflation is not sufficient cause for immediate monetary easing, the country’s central bank has stressed, shrugging off pressure from Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin for an interest rate cut at its Feb. 7 meeting.
“Recent negative inflation does not reflect a state of deflation or actual contracting demand. Therefore, it is not a cause to cut interest rates right away,” Piti Disyatat, assistant governor for monetary policy, told reporters on Monday. “We must take into account all factors, not just inflation.”
