Thai Headline Inflation Rose to 2.53 Percent in August 2026

Thailand's headline Consumer Price Index rose 2.53 percent year on year in August 2026, according to figures released by the Ministry of Commerce on 7 September 2026 and reported the same day by The Star / Asia News Network and by Xinhua. That is up from a 1.95 percent increase in July 2026 and is the first acceleration in four months. Nantapong Chiralerspong, director-general of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office at the Ministry of Commerce, said the index stood at 102.67 in August. Core CPI, which excludes fresh food and energy, rose 1.44 percent year on year, up from 1.34 percent in July. For the first eight months of 2026, the average headline CPI was 1.37 percent higher than in the same period of 2025.

The Trade Policy and Strategy Office attributed most of the August increase to domestic fuel prices remaining above year-earlier levels, and to broad rises in the price of prepared meals. Food and non-alcoholic beverage prices rose 2.99 percent year on year, with increases recorded for ready-cooked dishes, noodles, rice with curry, white rice, eggs, fresh vegetables and fresh fruit. Goods and services other than food and beverages rose 2.23 percent, driven mainly by fuel and public transport costs, including school transport, inter-provincial vans, motorcycle taxis, minibuses and air-conditioned buses. Prices fell over the same period for electricity, hotel rooms, clothing and personal care products.

At 2.53 percent, the August reading sits inside the Bank of Thailand's target range of 1 to 3 percent. The Ministry of Commerce maintained its forecast for average headline inflation across 2026 at 1.5 to 2.5 percent, with a midpoint of 2.0 percent, and said it expects headline inflation to remain positive in September, supported by energy, food and travel costs, while electricity tariffs and personal-care goods prices continue to ease. In the most recent international comparison the office published, covering July 2026, Thailand's headline rate of 1.95 percent was the 31st lowest among 135 reporting economies and the third lowest among eight reporting ASEAN members.

This article is a factual summary of published official statistics for a stated period. It is not financial, investment or business advice. Readers who need the underlying series should consult the Trade Policy and Strategy Office of the Ministry of Commerce and the Bank of Thailand directly.