Thailand Moves to Review CPI Amid Growing Concern That Official Measure Fails to Reflect Actual Household Costs
Economic authorities signal review of inflation metrics as reported CPI falls below lived experience of rising living costs for many Thai households
Thailand’s government is preparing a review of its Consumer Price Index (CPI) calculation after growing evidence that the official inflation measure may not accurately reflect the cost pressures faced by ordinary households.
The move comes amid persistent public concern over the disconnect between recorded inflation figures, which have shown negative or near-zero growth, and the lived experience of rising expenses for essentials such as food, housing and transportation.
Official data show that Thailand’s headline CPI has repeatedly remained below zero for much of 2025, with November figures indicating a year-on-year decline of approximately half a percent, continuing a multi-month trend of weak inflation readings outside the central bank’s target range.
Core inflation — which strips out volatile items such as food and energy — has remained positive but modest, underscoring subdued overall price growth.
Despite these official readings, recent independent surveys and consumer feedback suggest many Thai households are experiencing significant increases in everyday costs.
A nationwide survey published in mid-2025 found that basic living expenses — including housing, transport, utilities and food — had risen by over fifteen per cent year-on-year, contrasting sharply with the headline CPI figures and highlighting a potential mismatch between the statistic and household realities.
Economic commentators and certain policymakers have noted that the current CPI basket may underweight or inadequately capture essential living costs for average Thai families, particularly in urban areas where expenditures on housing and food command greater shares of household budgets.
These concerns have fed calls for a technical review of how the CPI is constructed, including the composition and weighting of expenditure categories, so that it better mirrors the inflationary pressures most acutely felt by citizens.
The timing of the review coincides with broader policy debates about Thailand’s economic trajectory, including efforts to stimulate growth amid weak domestic demand and external uncertainties.
The Bank of Thailand and the Ministry of Commerce are expected to play central roles in conducting the review, with the latter already responsible for publishing CPI figures and related economic data.
Public officials have not yet released a detailed timeline for the review but acknowledge that clearer and more representative inflation data could support better policymaking, particularly on cost-of-living relief and monetary strategy.
For many Thai consumers, who have reported persistent cost pressures despite headlines of low or negative inflation, the review offers hope that future official data will more honestly align with their lived experiences and help guide economic policy that better addresses everyday financial challenges.
The move comes amid persistent public concern over the disconnect between recorded inflation figures, which have shown negative or near-zero growth, and the lived experience of rising expenses for essentials such as food, housing and transportation.
Official data show that Thailand’s headline CPI has repeatedly remained below zero for much of 2025, with November figures indicating a year-on-year decline of approximately half a percent, continuing a multi-month trend of weak inflation readings outside the central bank’s target range.
Core inflation — which strips out volatile items such as food and energy — has remained positive but modest, underscoring subdued overall price growth.
Despite these official readings, recent independent surveys and consumer feedback suggest many Thai households are experiencing significant increases in everyday costs.
A nationwide survey published in mid-2025 found that basic living expenses — including housing, transport, utilities and food — had risen by over fifteen per cent year-on-year, contrasting sharply with the headline CPI figures and highlighting a potential mismatch between the statistic and household realities.
Economic commentators and certain policymakers have noted that the current CPI basket may underweight or inadequately capture essential living costs for average Thai families, particularly in urban areas where expenditures on housing and food command greater shares of household budgets.
These concerns have fed calls for a technical review of how the CPI is constructed, including the composition and weighting of expenditure categories, so that it better mirrors the inflationary pressures most acutely felt by citizens.
The timing of the review coincides with broader policy debates about Thailand’s economic trajectory, including efforts to stimulate growth amid weak domestic demand and external uncertainties.
The Bank of Thailand and the Ministry of Commerce are expected to play central roles in conducting the review, with the latter already responsible for publishing CPI figures and related economic data.
Public officials have not yet released a detailed timeline for the review but acknowledge that clearer and more representative inflation data could support better policymaking, particularly on cost-of-living relief and monetary strategy.
For many Thai consumers, who have reported persistent cost pressures despite headlines of low or negative inflation, the review offers hope that future official data will more honestly align with their lived experiences and help guide economic policy that better addresses everyday financial challenges.
