April 2026 Inflation Hits 38-Month High at 2.89%

MGR Online•Economy•3d ago

Reader Briefing

Thailand's inflation rate accelerated to a 38-month high in April 2026, driven by global oil price volatility and rising consumer commodity costs.

•April 2026 headline inflation surged by 2.89%, marking the highest level in 38 months.
•Rising costs are primarily attributed to local fuel prices, transportation fares, and increased food prices.
•The Office of Trade Policy and Strategy (OTPS) projects annual inflation between 1.5% and 3.0% depending on oil price persistence.
•Thailand's core inflation for April 2026 rose to 0.83%.

•The Office of Trade Policy and Strategy recorded April 2026 inflation at 2.89%, resulting in the highest consumer price index rise in 38 months.
•Global geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz caused local fuel prices to rise, resulting in increased transportation and logistics costs.
•The Office of Trade Policy and Strategy noted that high temperatures and food business operators passing on costs to consumers resulted in a 0.98% increase in food and non-alcoholic beverage prices during April 2026.
•The Office of Trade Policy and Strategy dismissed concerns regarding stagflation, as export performance, private investment, and consumption remain stable with unemployment at only 0.96%.
•The Office of Trade Policy and Strategy expects May 2026 inflation to grow by 3.06% in order to reflect ongoing high energy and production costs.
•The Ministry of Commerce will implement government measures including electricity bill subsidies in June 2026 in order to alleviate the cost of living for residents.
•The Office of Trade Policy and Strategy maintains that Thailand is currently within the first inflation case scenario of 1.5-2.5%.

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Nantapong Jiralertpong

"We project annual inflation in two scenarios: 1.5-2.5% if oil prices stay high for two months, or 2.5-3% if prices remain high for three months."

เงินเฟ้อทั้งปีไว้ 2 กรณี น้ำมันสูง 2 เดือน 1.5-2.5% แต่ถ้าน้ำมันสูง 3 เดือน ขยับเป็น 2.5-3%

Nantapong Jiralertpong(นายนันทพงษ์ จิระเลิศพงษ์)

Director of the Office of Trade Policy and Strategy (OTPS) at the Ministry of Commerce.

Office of Trade Policy and Strategy(สำนักงานนโยบายและยุทธศาสตร์การค้า)

Government agency under the Ministry of Commerce responsible for tracking and analyzing consumer price indices.

Ministry of Commerce(กระทรวงพาณิชย์)ℹ️

Thai government ministry overseeing trade and consumer price policies.