Panic : the manufacturer of the famous Mama Soup (instant noodles), would like to increase its price by 1 THB per packet to 6 THB. That would be a 20 % increase !
“The price of instant noodles is one of the country’s major economic indicators. If the sales volume is increased, this implies that the economy is slowing down. Sales of Mama noodles rose 12 per cent in the first nine months of this year.”
But as you may now, the thai authorities have found a good way to prevent inflation in the past : fixed prices. It’s true for sugar, and many other products. (“200 products and two services on its price-monitor lists and 35 products on its watch list that require monitoring each week“)…
Another way is… to ask politely the manufacturer to delay the hike (for instance, after the elections, that would be perfect)… by “dispatching officers“, like ambassadors…
“The Internal Trade Department is prepared to ask consumer product manufacturers to hold on their planned increase in product prices, to reduce negative impacts on consumers who are likely to suffer from higher cost of living in the fourth quarter. The department’s director-general Yanyong Phuangrach said that officers would be dispatched soon to convince Thai President Foods Plc, the manufacturer of “Mama” instant noodle to delay the price hike.” (Nation)
Delay… delay… it’s working for a while. But as I wrote here, eventually companies have to increase their prices, to offset the inflation of costs (gasoline etc.).
not good answer