BANGKOK, Thailand – A nationwide survey by the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) found that the Thai Help Thai Plus scheme has helped ease household expenses, encourage consumer spending and channel more money into local communities, with food and other essential goods among the most popular purchases.
Nantapong Chiralerspong, director-general of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office, said the survey of 5,465 people conducted nationwide in July found that 71.77% of respondents had used the scheme, while 28.23% had not. The results indicated that the main reasons people participated were to reduce their living expenses, increase their purchasing power and encourage them to buy goods and services from local shops. Many respondents also said they expected to continue buying from businesses they had discovered through the scheme after the measure ends.
Among those who did not use the scheme, the most common reasons included already receiving benefits through the state welfare card, missing the registration deadline, failing to qualify or not registering. Some respondents also faced difficulties accessing the digital system, including not having a smartphone, having an incompatible or damaged device, being unable to download or use the required application, or experiencing difficulties with identity verification and facial recognition. Such challenges were particularly relevant among older people and those unfamiliar with digital technology.
Others said they did not need the benefit, wanted to leave the entitlement for people in greater need, or were simply not interested. Some did not meet the eligibility requirements, including age restrictions or other conditions. Food was the most common category for purchases made under the scheme. Ready-to-eat food such as rice dishes, noodles and prepared meals accounted for 48.22% of purchases, followed by fresh food including rice, meat, vegetables and fruit at 38.87%. Daily and household goods accounted for 32.22%, while cooking ingredients such as cooking oil, fish sauce and sugar accounted for 26.73%. Food and beverage delivery services represented 23.97%, followed by beverages at 21.23% and packaged food at 21.02%.
The figures suggest that consumers primarily used the scheme for essential goods and everyday expenses rather than discretionary purchases. The survey also found that the benefits extended beyond immediate savings. Some 36.96% of respondents said the scheme encouraged them to spend more freely, while 24.50% said they used the money saved for other necessary expenses.
nother 23% said they increased their purchases from local or community businesses. Meanwhile, 8.60% put the money they saved into savings, 7.25% used it to repay debt, 5.75% bought better-quality products and 4.43% said they were able to reduce borrowing or credit-card use. The scheme also appears to have strengthened relationships between consumers and participating businesses. When asked whether they would continue buying from the same shops after the program ends on September 30, 31.58% said they would continue buying from the same shops for most of their purchases.
A further 20.70% said they would continue buying some products from the same shops, while 11.29% expected about half of their purchases to remain with those businesses. Another 6.55% said they would continue buying all their goods from the same shops. Only 0.88% said they would not return to the same businesses at all.
Regarding the scheme’s impact on living costs, 30.47% of respondents said it had reduced their expenses moderately, while 23.22% said it had helped quite significantly and 10.76% said it had helped significantly. Another 5.91% said the benefit was small, while only 0.64% said the scheme had not helped reduce their expenses at all.
When asked about product prices during the scheme compared with periods without the measure, 41.08% said prices and quantities remained unchanged. Some 20.66% believed prices had increased, while 5.86% said prices remained the same but quantities had decreased. Only 2.12% reported lower prices. Looking ahead to spending after the program ends, 29.19% expected their spending to remain about the same as during the scheme. Another 23.26% expected to spend slightly less, while 9.50% anticipated spending more and 6.17% expected to spend significantly less. Some 2.43% remained uncertain.
The survey also examined public expectations for the wider Thai economy. Almost 45% of respondents, or 44.96%, expected the economy to remain unchanged. Meanwhile, 28.93% expected a slight improvement and 3.90% anticipated a significant improvement. Combined, 32.83% therefore expected the Thai economy to improve, while 16.61% expected a slight deterioration and 5.58% anticipated a significant decline. The results indicate that most consumers remain cautiously neutral or optimistic about the economic outlook, although concerns over purchasing power and future economic conditions remain.
Nantapong said the findings showed that the Thai Help Thai Plus scheme had helped ease the cost of living, increase purchasing power and improve household liquidity, particularly through spending on food and other necessities. He said the money saved through the scheme allowed households to redirect some of their income toward other priorities, including savings and debt repayment.
The program also helped stimulate spending among small retailers, community shops and local businesses, helping distribute income within communities while giving participating businesses access to new customers and opportunities to retain them after the scheme ends. The survey suggests that the program’s impact could therefore extend beyond the period of government co-payment, with many consumers indicating that they intend to maintain relationships with local businesses they used during the scheme.
