With consumer prices surging in March, manufacturers are being asked to maintain their prices, particularly during the transition period before the new government is formed.
Whichai Phochanakij, director-general of the Internal Trade Department, said the department is monitoring the prices of processed foods and products for daily use to prevent traders from profiteering.
"The department will not allow any consumer product manufacturers to raise prices during this period, which would affect the cost of living," he said. "The department has discussed the matter with the Thai Restaurant Association, and they pledged that higher fresh vegetable prices will not cause them to raise prices for processed food."
Mr Whichai said the department is scheduled to call a meeting with consumer goods makers within the next two weeks to ask for cooperation in capping product prices.
Next month, the ministry plans to host a joint public and private meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak to discuss the cost of living, particularly during the transition period.
The Commerce Ministry reported recently that consumer prices rose for a third straight month in March, driven by fresh food and vegetables and oil.
The consumer price index (CPI), which gauges headline inflation, surged by 1.24% from the same month last year, accelerating from 0.73% year-on-year in February and 0.27% in January.
Prices of fresh vegetables rose 9.5% because of low supply caused by hot and dry weather. Milled rice prices were up 4.6%, livestock product prices increased by 4.7%, and domestic oil prices gained 2.3% from the same period last year.
On a month-to-month basis, prices rose 0.4% in March after a 0.2% rise in February and against a 0.02% contraction in January.
Of the 422 product and service items used to gauge inflation, the prices of 246 items such as pork, eggs, milled rice, fresh food and oil rose last month. Prices decreased for 93 items such as white shrimp, shampoo and vegetable oil, while the remaining items saw no price changes.
Core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose 0.58% year-on-year in March and increased 0.02% from February.
For the first three months of 2019, headline inflation averaged 0.74%, with core inflation standing at 0.62%.
