BANGKOK, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's industrial confidence continued to fall, reaching the lowest level in six months in April due to a slowdown in factory output and the impact of U.S. import tariffs, data showed on Monday.
The Thai industries sentiment index dipped to 89.9 last month from 91.8 in March as most components of the index decreased, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).
The reading was based on a survey of 1,359 entrepreneurs across 47 industry groups under the FTI.
The decline was attributed to an extended holiday in April that reduced the number of working days for manufacturers, as well as the impact of a recent powerful earthquake, which slowed purchasing decisions for vertical housing and lowered confidence in the property sector, the FTI said in a statement.
The index forecast for the next three months dropped to 93.3 in April from 95.7 a month earlier, reflecting entrepreneurs' concerns over the uncertainty of international trade policies and the potential for a global economic downturn, the FTI said. ■
