BANGKOK, Thailand – The Department of Internal Trade under the Ministry of Commerce has expanded its “Blue Flag” low-cost consumer goods initiative across Bangkok to alleviate the public’s cost-of-living burdens and stimulate domestic spending.
Discounted retail sites have been established nationwide, with multiple locations across all Bangkok districts throughout May 2026 to ensure convenient community access to highly subsidized household staples.
Essential goods in the program are priced 20% to 40% below standard market rates. Sugar sells at 22 baht per kilogram, a 19% reduction; packaged rice at 110 baht per bag, a 39% reduction; and palm oil at 42 baht per bottle, a 16% reduction. These products come directly from manufacturers to minimize intermediary costs for households.
Crowds gathered to purchase essential daily provisions on the final day of the Blue Flag market at the Bueng Kum Eua-Arthorn community football field in Bangkok.
The most sought-after item was chicken eggs, priced at 85 baht per tray compared to the standard retail price of about 130 baht, a discount of over 35%. To manage high demand and ensure fair distribution, organizers allocated egg sales across four daily intervals: 10 A.M., 12 P.M., 3 P.M., and 6 P.M.
Residents praised the program as a practical state measure that provides immediate financial relief, noting the savings preserve household capital for other necessary expenses. They also expressed optimism about the upcoming registration for the state-backed “Thais HelpThais Plus” economic stimulus scheme, viewing it as a critical short-term measure to boost public purchasing power and accelerate cash circulation in the national economy. (NNT)
