Thailand's economy softened in April from the previous month, weighed down by the impact of the Middle East conflict on tourism, the Bank of Thailand said Friday.
Private consumption fell as spending on consumer goods and fuel eased following earlier front-loaded purchases, while higher energy prices affected travel and working patterns.
Private investment also decreased after accelerating in the prior month. However, merchandise exports excluding gold rose across several categories, particularly technology and automotive products, though exports to the Middle East remained weak, the central bank said.
The current account recorded a large deficit, mainly due to a wider trade gap from higher imports, while labor market conditions improved.
Manufacturing output was broadly stable, supported by gains in automotive, rubber, and plastics production, while government expenditure expanded on higher current and capital spending, the data showed.