Thais demand government action on living costs

NSO survey also shows very high expectations for accountable governance

Thais say their top concern is rising living costs they are urging the new government to take swift action on the issue, according to a National Statistical Office (NSO) survey.

The nationwide survey was conducted from Jan 22 to 28 to assess public expectations of the new government.

The survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 6,000 adults living in private households across the country.

Ekapong Rimcharone, director-general of the office, said 69.9% of respondents chose the high cost of living as their primary concern, followed by insufficient income relative to expenses (63.8%), household debt (43.1%), inadequate state welfare (25.4%) and declining agricultural prices (25.2%).

The findings underscore the multifaceted economic challenges facing Thai households, particularly amid persistent inflationary pressures and uneven income growth, he said.

A majority of respondents (50.5%) urged swift government action to address livelihood issues and ease cost-of-living burdens.

Other key priorities included job creation and income generation (10.8%), resolving household debt (9.1%), improving welfare and quality of life (5.8%), and combating corruption (5.1%).

On the issue of debt, 44.2% of respondents said reducing living costs and preventing new debt should be the government’s first approach.

Forth-four percent said they supported lowering interest rates for both formal and informal lending, while 42.2% emphasised the need to increase incomes alongside debt restructuring.

Additional measures included providing low-interest loans for low-income earners (30.8%) and restructuring debt in line with borrowers’ repayment capacity (32.2%).

The survey also revealed high expectations for governance. A significant 80.9% of respondents said the new government should prioritise transparency and accountability.

Other expectations included listening to public opinion (59.7%), making timely and effective decisions (46.7%), avoiding political manoeuvring in favour of the public interest (31%), and responding promptly to crises (29.8%).

In terms of leadership qualities, honesty, transparency and accountability were ranked as the most important attributes for cabinet ministers, cited by 67.7% of respondents.

Other desired qualities included being free from illegal involvement (46.7%), having no criminal record (42.2%), possessing relevant expertise and experience (39%), and the ability to resolve issues effectively (31.6%).

Notably, 90.4% of respondents said ministerial qualifications are of high to the highest importance in national administration, reflecting strong public expectations for capable and ethical leadership.

Mr Ekapong said the survey forms part of the NSO’s “Quick Survey” programme, which will continue to monitor public opinion on government performance.