Most Thais say rising living cost becoming hard to bear: Poll

Thailand’s rising cost of living is becoming increasingly hard for households to bear, with a new survey showing that most people are already feeling the strain as Songkran approaches.



An opinion poll by Suan Dusit University, or Suan Dusit Poll, found that many Thais are struggling with higher prices for essential goods in the wake of the oil crisis.



The survey was conducted among 1,272 respondents nationwide, both online and in the field, from March 31 to April 3.



Asked how they felt about the current surge in prices, 61.32 per cent of respondents said their expenses had risen sharply and that essential goods were becoming too expensive to bear.



Another 43.87 per cent said they were beginning to worry that goods might run short or that deliveries could be delayed, while 41.27 per cent said they could still cope, but were having to compare prices more carefully and be more selective in their purchases.