The Private Consumption Index (PCI) increased by 2.0 per cent, improving from the second quarter. Indicators which expanded well were the quantity of passenger car sales, the quantity of domestic electrical consumption, as well as the quantity of benzene and gasohol usage, which reverted back to moderation after a period of continual decrease earlier on.

The Private Investment Index (PII) (preliminary figure) rose by 1.6 per cent, improving from the last quarter. Indicators in the equipment and machinery category and the construction category both showed improvement. In September 2006, the trade balance registered a surplus of 1.4 billion US dollars, rising from the previous month. Export value totaled 11.8 billion US dollars, growing by 14.5 per cent year-on-year on the back of the exports in high-tech industries such as electronics, vehicles, steel products and petroleum products. Import value was at 10.4 billion US dollars, growing by 9.1 per cent year-on-year in line with the import of products in the energy sector, petroleum products, metal, chemical, integrated circuit boards, computer parts and machinery. The services and transfers account recorded a deficit of 227 million US dollars in line with the tourism revenue which saw a slowdown from the previous month as tourists were concerned for the political uncertainty in the country. In addition, expenditure on investment returns rose from the previous month due to this period being the usual time of income transfer and dividend payment. Consequently, the current account recorded a surplus of 1.2 billion US dollars while the balance of payments was in surplus by 2.6 billion US dollars. International reserves at end-September 2006 stood at 61.6 billion US dollars, with a net forward position of 4.0 billion US dollar.

In the third quarter of 2006, the trade balance was in surplus by 1.5 billion US dollars. Export value registered at 34.6 billion US dollars, rising by 16.3 per cent while import value totaled 33.1 billion US dollars, increasing by 12.2 per cent. The services and transfers account recorded a surplus of 0.8 billion US dollars and the current account registered a 2.3 billion US dollar surplus. At the same time, the balance of payments recorded a surplus of 3.5 billion US dollars.

At end-September 2006, the monetary base stood at 786.6 billion baht, expanding by 3.6 per cent from end-September 2005. In addition, M2, M2a, M3, and broad money2/ expanded by 8.4, 6.5, 7.5 and 7.9 per cent year-on-year respectively.

Money market interest rates. In September 2006 and up until the period of 1-20 October 2006, both the 1-day repurchase rate and the overnight interbank rate were kept stable as there was no change in the policy rate during the previous two meetings of the Monetary Policy Committee (6 September and 18 October 2006).

In the third quarter of 2006, the baht appreciated to an average of 37.69 baht per US dollar from its average of 38.13 baht per US dollar in August.