GSB: people are worried about drought, cheap farm products

BANGKOK, May 18 (TNA) -- The Government Savings Bank (GSB) found from its opinion survey that people were concerned about drought and the low prices of farm products. It predicted the Thai economy will grow by 3% this year. GSB president Chatchai Payuhanaveechai said his bank conducted the survey on 1,580 people sampled nationwide in April and found that the grassroots economic sentiment index stood at 44.9, meaning that the grass roots thought the overall economy had not significantly recovered. Each of the respondents earned up to 15,000 baht a month and was questioned on their feelings about the national economy at present and in the next six months. Mr Chatchai said the research center of his bank predicted that the Thai economy would expand by 3% this year. Positive factors for the economy were growing tourism, government investment, and economic stimulus measures while negative factors were global economic problems, the economic slowdowns of Thailand’s trading partners, and severe drought, Mr Chatchai said. (TNA)