Middle East Conflict Drives Up Cost of Living, Thais Cancel Travel and Reduce Spending

Central News Agency

(Central News Agency reporter Li Zong-xian, Bangkok 17th) The joint attack by the United States and Israel on Iran has pushed up oil prices. Although the war is in the Middle East, it has already impacted the daily lives of Thai people. Many have found that the cost of living is rising, with increasing expenses for transportation, food, and entertainment, forcing them to change their lifestyles, such as reducing unnecessary expenditures to save money or postponing travel plans.

The Middle East conflict has triggered an energy crisis, impacting Thailand's economy, especially with the surge in oil prices. Raviphan Panitcharoen, 38, who works in finance, believes that the most significant increase in the cost of living is the rise in oil prices. He said that filling his car with fuel used to cost about 1350 Thai baht (about NT$1326), but now it costs 1560 Thai baht, an increase of over 200 Thai baht.

Raviphan told the Central News Agency that although meal prices and motorcycle taxi fares have not yet significantly increased, he believes that oil prices will be reflected in other goods in the coming months. "I have already seen some manufacturers asking to raise product prices, and some fruit prices at street stalls have risen from 30 baht to 35 baht."

To cope with potentially further rising expenses, Raviphan has begun to reduce unnecessary spending and postpone shopping plans. He revealed that he originally planned to travel to another province at the end of March, but decided to cancel due to fuel shortages in some areas. As for overseas travel plans, he also believes that the fuel surcharge for air tickets has increased, and he may have to wait until the conflict subsides before planning.

Thai fuel prices have risen sharply in recent weeks, with diesel prices temporarily rising to about 50.54 Thai baht per liter, a historical high. The Thai Fuel Fund Management Committee lowered fuel prices on the 16th to cope with the trend of weakening global oil prices and to alleviate the burden on consumers. Today's diesel price was lowered by 1.50 Thai baht to 42.90 Thai baht.

However, Pachapoom Jearanai Chaiyasan, a 31-year-old office worker, still stated that rising oil prices have become a heavy burden, as he drives to work every day, and fuel costs are the most direct and difficult expense to save. Pachapoom told the Central News Agency that he recently switched to a hybrid car, hoping to reduce fuel consumption, but still feels the pressure. He originally used 95 octane gasoline, but later switched to cheaper E20 blended gasoline containing 20% ethanol. Even so, "the price of a full tank is still more expensive than filling up with 95 octane before the Middle East conflict."

However, some people believe that the current cost of living is still within a controllable range, but they are worried that if prices continue to rise in the future, they will be forced to adjust their lifestyles.

Pimphak Thaweewong, a 28-year-old office worker, said that the current increase is still acceptable, but if oil and natural gas prices remain high for a long time, the cost of living will inevitably increase.

She told the Central News Agency, "If oil prices continue to rise, I may reduce trips that require driving, or simply go out less." She added that she has no overseas travel plans this year, so short-term travel plans will not be affected, but admitted that if prices rise further, future leisure and travel arrangements will have to be re-evaluated.

Such anxiety also appears among many Thais. Some have canceled plans to return home during the Songkran holiday, and some have reduced shopping and dining out. The Bangkok Post reported that some people have even decided to postpone plans to have children or start businesses.

In addition, for small and medium-sized enterprises, the pressure is even more obvious. The report pointed out that a chicken noodle shop in Bangkok said that the decline in business can no longer be measured by percentage, but by the number of empty seats.

The owner said: "The situation is worse than during the epidemic, because the shop still has to operate as usual, and various expenses still have to be paid." The prices in the shop have not increased, but the number of customers has decreased, and "operating costs have soared like a rocket." (Editor: Zhang Zhi-xuan) 1150417

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