Govt assures no shortage of consumer goods during Bangkok shutdown

BANGKOK, January 19 (TNA) - The government has assured the public that there will be no shortage of consumer goods when anti-government protesters carry out their plan to shutdown Bangkok from next week. Somchart Soithong, director-general of the Trade Department under the Commerce Ministry, on Friday said his department had closely monitored goods prices and was laying out measures to prevent shortage of consumer goods and price hikes on January 13, when protesters of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) begins their plan to shutdown Bangkok. Somchart said he was also confidence that trade across the country would not be affected as the protesters would only seize inner areas of the capital. The director-general said he and the department’s officials would inspect goods prices at department stores and fresh markets next week and see if there is panic buying over necessities, or if consumers stock up on goods. (TNA)