BANGKOK, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's consumer confidence index (CCI) recorded a 26-month high in January, mainly driven by government stimulus measures and a resurgence in tourism, a survey showed on Thursday.
According to the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) survey of 2,244 respondents across the country, the CCI rose to 51.7 last month from 49.7 a month earlier, marking the eighth consecutive month of growth.
Consumers felt the economy had improved as the tourism sector, the country's main driver of growth, gathered steam, particularly with the return of Chinese travelers, the UTCC said in a statement.
According to the statement, all indices continued to rise in January, indicating a positive start to the first quarter as consumers express confidence in economic recovery and are more willing to spend.
Despite this, consumers remained concerned about the high cost of living due to rising gasoline prices and interest rate hikes, it said. ■