Monitoring of profiteering during Chinese New Year

BANGKOK, Jan 21 (TNA) -- Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said she has ordered senior officials and the ministry provincial officials to survey goods prices in the market to prevent profiteering practices by the sellers during the annual Chinese New Year festival next week. Chinese New Year celebrants usually buy meat, vegetables, fruits and other necessities for used in worshipping the Chinese Gods and their family ancestors and sellers normally up their prices before the festival starts. Key markets in Bangkok such as Yaowaraj market are expected to be packed with shoppers from this weekend, said Ms Apiradi, adding that she had told ministry officials to survey commodity prices and report to the ministry daily. Simultaneously, the ministry spokeswoman said provinces in the South are not expected to be colourful during the festival because of the severe flood earlier this month. Prices of essential goods used by people in worshipping are expected to increase slightly due to huge demand, the spokeswoman said. However, goods prices are projected to fall on decreasing demand after the Chinese New Year ends, she added. The Chinese New Year starts Saturday next week. (TNA)