BANGKOK, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's economy softened in August on a monthly basis, as weaker agricultural and industrial output weighed on trade and freight transport services, the central bank said on Tuesday.
According to the Bank of Thailand, manufacturing production continued to decline, particularly in the automotive and food and beverage sectors, reflecting sluggish demand, elevated inventory levels, and temporary factory closures for maintenance and relocation.
Private consumption, investment, and merchandise exports remained stable, although electronic shipments slowed after experiencing robust growth in previous months, the central bank said in a statement.
The tourism sector improved, bolstered by higher revenue from both domestic and foreign tourists, said the central bank's Assistant Governor Chayawadee Chai-Anant.
Government spending fell slightly compared to a year earlier due to lower capital expenditures by the central government and state-owned enterprises, Chayawadee told a news conference.
Looking ahead, the Southeast Asian nation is expected to face a slowdown in exports, with the impact of U.S. tariff measures adding pressure on industrial production, she noted. ■
