Somkid to rejoin PPRP: Panel to decide on his role with party. Former deputy prime minister Somkid Jatusripitak, chairman of the Sang Anakhot Thai Party (SATP), will move to the Palang Pracharath Party to strengthen the PPRP’s economic team, sources said. Bangkok Post
FPO maintains Thai GDP growth forecast: The Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) has maintained its Thai economic growth forecast this year at 3.8%, in line with the continued rebound of the tourism sector and declining inflation. Bangkok Post
No House dissolution yet: EC ‘needs time’ to prepare for election. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he will not call for the dissolution of the House of Representatives yet despite having the legal grounds to do so after two amended organic laws for holding elections took effect yesterday. Bangkok Post
Dec Current account moved to surplus of $1.102b (estimate +$500m) from revised -$445m in Nov, on tourism and positive trade balance.
EV battery excise tax to be reduced to 1%: A national committee on electronic vehicle policy, also known as the EV board, yesterday agreed in principle on a proposal to lower the excise tax on EV batteries from the current 8% to just 1% while offering a 24-billionbaht subsidy to the EV batteryproducing industry. Bangkok Post
Land prices surge amid urban growth: Infrastructure, including a new expressway, along with urbanisation driven by mass transit expansion and market competition pushed Bangkok land prices up by as much as 75% in recent years. Bangkok Post
Cabinet greenlights workers’ wage hike: The cabinet yesterday approved a wage increase for skilled workers in 17 professions. Bangkok Post
Country’s fuel usage up 13.5% in 2022: Economic recovery drives consumption. Last year saw the full resumption of air and land transport inside and outside Thailand, without travel restrictions. NANTHIKA THANGSUPANICH Director-general, Department of Energy Business. Thai fuel consumption rose by 13.5% last year, driven by the easing of the Covid-19 pandemic, full reopening of the country and economic recovery, says the Department of Energy Business (DOEB). Bangkok Post
Fed set to slow down rate rises this year: The US Federal Reserve is likely to lift interest rates by just 0.75% this year amid improving economic figures, benefiting Asian stock markets as well as high-risk assets, investment company Principal Asset Management said yesterday. Bangkok Post
Equity Sale Tax : Bangkokbiznews quotes Finance Ministry as saying that Office of the Council of State has completed its vetting process, just pending royal endorsement and publishing in a Royal Gazette, dismissing chatters that it’ll be postponed.
