Inflation in Bangkok at Supermarkets (as viewed by foreigners)
We have calculated our own inflation rate for Bangkok's Supermarkets. We evaluated the prices of a small selection of consumer goods at different supermarkets at the beginning of 2008 and at the beginning of 2009. Supermarkets we have visited include : Foodland, Tops Supermarket, Villa Market, Gourmet Market (at Siam Paragon).
Prices for the following items were collected : Bega Superlights (processed cheese), 10 slices; Fragata Virgin Olive Oil (500 ml). Scotch-Brite Scrub Sponge (original); can of Singha beer ; Rejoice Complete shampoo (400 ml); Tipco one liter of Tangerine Juice ; Listerine Tartar Control mouthwash 250 cc. ; Ritter 100 gram dark Chocolate ; Mach 3 Gillette Razors (4)
In the tables below a second number indicates prices for people who carry a member card for Tops Supermarket.
cheapest ; most expensive
| TABLE 1 : Jan 2008 |
Bega |
Fragata |
Scotch |
Singha |
Rejoice |
Tipco |
Listerine |
Ritter |
Mach 3 |
| Tops |
105 |
199 |
13 |
26 |
99(69) |
69(59) |
65 |
69 |
249 |
| Foodland |
104.5 |
171 |
13 |
26 |
84 |
67 |
63.5 |
64.5 |
238 |
| Gourmet Market |
129 |
172 |
13 |
26.75 |
100.25 |
71.5 |
63.5 |
69 |
258 |
| Villa Market |
129 |
199 |
14 |
28 |
N/A |
78 |
N/A |
65 |
268 |
| Tesco-Lotus |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Average Price : |
116.87 |
193.2 |
13.1 |
26.25 |
95.56(84.41) |
70.9(68.4) |
63.75 |
66.5 |
249.6 |
cheapest ; most expensive
| TABLE 2 : Jan 2009 |
Bega |
Fragata |
Scotch |
Singha |
Rejoice |
Tipco |
Listerine |
Ritter |
Mach 3 |
| Tops |
136(119) |
199 |
15 |
29 |
109(99) |
69 |
70 |
76 |
269 |
| Foodland |
129.5 |
198 |
14.75 |
26 |
110.75 |
67.5 |
66.25 |
67 |
245.75 |
| Gourmet Market |
129 |
197 |
14.25 |
29 |
110.75 |
71.5 |
66.25 |
73 |
277 |
| Villa Market |
129 |
199 |
15 |
29 |
N/A |
78 |
N/A |
74 |
269 |
| Tesco-Lotus |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Average Price : |
130.87(126.62) |
198.25 |
14.75 |
28.25 |
110.16(106.83) |
71.5 |
67.5 |
72.5 |
265.18 |
| TABLE 3 : Comparison 2008 -2009 |
2008 Average Prices |
2009 Average Prices |
Increase (Decrease) |
| Bega SuperLights |
116.87 |
126.62 (130.87) |
+8.34 (+11.20) |
| Fragata 500 cc Olive Oil |
193.2 |
198.25 |
+2.61 |
| Scotch-Brite Scrub |
13.1 |
14.75 |
+12.60 |
| Singha Beer |
26.25 |
28.25 |
+7.62 |
| Rejoice Shampoo 400 cc |
84.41 (95.56) |
106.83 (110.16) |
+26.56(+15.28) |
| Tipco Tangerine Juice 1 L. |
68.4(70.9) |
71.5 |
+4.53(+0.85) |
| Listerine 250 cc Tartar Control |
63.75 |
67.5 |
+5.88 |
| Ritter Dark Chocolate 100 gr. |
66.5 |
72.5 |
+9.02 |
| Mach 3 razors (4) |
249.6 |
265.18 |
+6.24 |
| |
|
|
+9.27 (+7.83) |
In the table above numbers between brackets indicate the average price when (sometimes heavy) discounts for members at Tops Supermarket are NOT taken into account.
Overall year-on-year inflation between Jan. 2008 and Jan. 2000 (all discounts taken into account) comes out at about 9.27 %.
Interestingly there is not a single item on our price list that showed a decrease from 2008 to 2009, so there is great consistency, and price rises all most likely happening for most items sold in supermarkets around Bangkok. When discounts at Tops are not taken into account, inflation is 7.83 % (mainly due to heavily discounted items at beginning of 2008). We can most likely conclude that inflation in Bangkok's supermarkets from Januari 2008 to Januari 2009 is in the 8-10 % range. We had the subjective impression that measured inflation would be actually higher, so it just confirms that it is useful to really measure price rises, rather than to belief subjective impressions.
As previously indicated the prices at different supermarkets confirm our evaluation in 2008.
Foodland is cheapest, Villa Market is most expensive, while Tops and Gourmet Market fall in between.
Official Data : CPI between November 2008- November 2007 : 2, 2 %. Core inflation 2.0 % (core inflation does not include certain ram materials and energy costs). Officially year-on-year inflation peaked at 9.2 % (core inflation of 3.7 %) in July 2008 (at the time of both the high oil prices and food prices). Data from Ministry of Commerce (Bureau of Trade and Economic Indices).
So our calculated rates at the beginning of 2009 are really substantially higher. We have to admit that price fluctuations at Bangkok's open markets will be different. Maybe we can conclude that we calculated the consumer price increases that are mainly applicable for foreigners and the Thai middle class.
|
: Contains Video. 