In recent years, Thai people's economic sentiments have often been filled with uncertainty, due to high living costs, household debt, and weak purchasing power. However, Ipsos's July 2026 surveys, What Worries the World? and Global Consumer Confidence Index, reveal emerging signs of change.
The survey found that Thais are beginning to perceive the economy as gradually improving and are regaining confidence in spending, especially on daily consumer goods.
Nevertheless, increased confidence does not mean concerns have disappeared, as "corruption" remains the top issue when respondents were asked about the country's current problems.
The survey shows that 53% of Thais identify financial and political corruption as among the nation's most worrisome problems. Although this figure has slightly decreased from the previous month, it is still 7 points higher than the same period last year.
These figures indicate that for Thai consumers, economic recovery alone may be insufficient if transparency, accountability, and institutional credibility remain unresolved questions.
Another notable issue is that crime and violence have re-entered the top five concerns for Thais, with 23% of respondents citing it as a significant national problem.
This trend aligns with global patterns; Ipsos found that "crime and violence" has risen to become the number one concern in many countries amid increasing geopolitical conflicts and instability.
Despite multiple concerns, the survey reveals positive signs regarding Thailand's economic direction: 56% of Thais believe the country is on the right track, up 6 points from the previous month and 15 points compared to the same time last year.
Meanwhile, 41% view the Thai economy as being in good condition, a 10-point increase from June, although the majority (59%) still see economic challenges ahead.
The survey indicates that 63% of respondents feel more comfortable buying daily consumer goods compared to six months ago; 48% feel more confident purchasing big-ticket items like homes or cars; and 49% expect their financial status to improve over the next six months.
Ipsos suggests that the recovering confidence may be supported by government stimulus measures such as the "Thai Help Thai Plus" program, which aims to boost domestic purchasing power.
However, while consumers are beginning to spend more openly, their spending remains cautious, prioritizing essential goods over high-priced items.
Yet, building long-term confidence depends not only on purchasing power but also on "trust" in the economic system, government, and business sectors. As consumers start to open their wallets, what they seek is not only value for money but also transparency, safety, and assurance that the systems around them are moving in trustworthy directions.
Source: Ipsos
Follow economic and government policy updates with ThairathMoney athttps://www.thairath.co.th/money/economics/thai_economics
Follow the Facebook page: Thairath Money at this linkhttps://www.facebook.com/ThairathMoney