BANGKOK -- Inflation sparked by surging global oil prices is pushing the Thai government to borrow more money to finance oil price subsidies, but experts warn the additional debt will weigh on the treasury and could become a severe economic problem even after the end of the pandemic.
Thailand's headline inflation topped market forecasts, hitting 3.23%, year on year, in January, a nine-month high, driven by higher energy prices. That was above the 1% to 3% range targeted by the Bank of Thailand.