October 3, 2008
Bangkok - The SME confidence index increased from 38.5 in July to 40.3 in August, according to the Office of the SMEs Promotion (OSMEP).
The index of the wholesale, retail and service sector remained at 38.1, 40.4 and 41.0 respectively.
The increasing confidence index was because of falling operational costs supported by decreasing world oil prices.
People’s purchasing power was also boosted by the government’s six-month measures.
However, the confidence index of the country’s economy and own business declined from 25.1 and 35.9 to 33.4 and 36.9 respectively.
The confidence index of the trade and service sector was expected to become 45.5 and 43.8 in the next three months.
The index of the wholesale, retail and service sector would rise to 41.5, 44.3 and 46.8 respectively.
Factors affecting business running the most are Thailand’s economic condition, purchasing power, increasing costs and wages, oil prices and transportation cost, and competition in the market.
