TISI rises for 2nd consecutive month

BANGKOK, July 23 (TNA) - The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) reports that the Thai Industries Sentiment Index (TISI) rose for the 2nd consecutive month in June 2014. FTI Chairman Suphan Mongkholsuthee told journalists on Wednesday a latest survey on Thai industrialists' confidence in June, after the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) took control of the national administrative power on May 22, showed that the TISI rose to 88.4 from 85.1 in May. Suphan said surveyed industrialists saw the national situation was returning to normal and the recent FIFA World Cup 2014 helped boost sales of sports outfits on the domestic market. Suphan acknowledged that the TISI remained below 100 last month, as local business operators were concerned over the United States' recent decision on moving Thailand to its lowest Tier 3 of countries tolerating human trafficking, from Tier 2, and they feared that the lowest position could reduce Thai exports to the US and European markets. According to the FTI chief, the survey found the TISI for the next three months stood at 101.9, up from 101 in May, as local industrialists were less worried over impacts from the domestic political situation, oil prices and global economic conditions although they were growing concerned over the exchange rate of the Thai baht against the US dollar. Meanwhile, Somsak Kangteerawat, Senior Executive Vice President of the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), told reporters that a latest survey on farmers nationwide last month found Thai farmers were very happy, as their average happiness score stood at 3.10 out of total four. The happiest were fruit growers, followed by sugarcane growers and meat chicken farmers. The survey also showed that Thai rice growers were very happy after receiving money for their pledged rice, as their average happiness score stood at 3.35 out of total four, a new high. (TNA)