The Thai Retailers Association (TRA) has revealed a proposal to unlock the "Thai Help Thai Plus" program to expand eligibility to stores of all sizes, aiming to sustain businesses and support employment.
On 11 June 2026 GMT+7, the Thai Retailers Association disclosed results from the Retail Sentiment Index (RSI) survey, conducted jointly with the Bank of Thailand and the TRA. The survey found that retailers hold a positive outlook on the economic and purchasing power trends for the next three months, from July to September, boosted by government economic stimulus measures, especially the "Thai Help Thai Plus" program, which injects funds into small shops and highly vulnerable micro-entrepreneurs.
However, preliminary assessments indicate that these measures may concentrate purchasing power among participating stores, while other sectors—particularly medium-sized shops, tax-compliant businesses, and modern retail outlets—may not fully benefit from the program.
Therefore, the association requests the government to consider additional targeted measures to assist tax-registered businesses of medium and large sizes, or to consider expanding "Thai Help Thai Plus" eligibility in the next phase to help preserve employment, enhance business liquidity, and promote broader circulation of purchasing power throughout the economy.
Natt Wongpanich, chairman of the Thai Retailers Association, revealed that the retail business confidence index in May continued to decline across all components and store types, reflecting ongoing weak purchasing power pressures alongside persistently high costs.
The survey shows that confidence is expected to rise above 50 points in the next three months, as retailers hope the "Thai Help Thai Plus" program will help sustain purchasing power and ease living costs in the short term. However, concerns remain that purchasing power may slow again after the program ends, while business costs continue rising. As a result, most retailers plan to raise prices in several categories by up to 5%, reflecting cost-push inflation that burdens consumers with higher prices and reduced purchasing power.
Feedback from the "Thai Help Thai Plus" program indicates a shift in consumer spending behavior, focusing on small shops and participating food delivery platforms, which has negatively affected sales of medium-sized businesses—especially tax-registered restaurants—whose sales have dropped by approximately 30–50%.
Retailers and restaurants with annual sales exceeding 1.8 million baht, properly registered under the VAT system, form a vital part of the economic structure contributing to government revenue, employment, and extensive supply chains. Currently, they face multiple pressures such as high energy, transportation, and operating costs, particularly restaurants bearing 15–20% increased raw material costs, while sales decline due to ineligibility for the program's benefits.
The association believes that reviewing and adjusting measures to include more tax-registered businesses will not only provide immediate relief but also maintain balance in the overall economy by supporting business liquidity, preserving employment, and sustaining consumer purchasing power.
Thus, to achieve inclusive economic stimulation, the Thai Retailers Association proposes that the government review and improve the "Thai Help Thai Plus" program conditions in its next phase, with key recommendations as follows:
1. Expand program eligibility by considering targeted supplementary measures or allowing stores of all sizes, including properly tax-registered ones, to participate. This would distribute funds more broadly throughout all levels of the supply chain and avoid concentration of spending in limited groups.
Additionally, this would increase consumer choice and convenience, especially in modern trade stores that carry many products from Thai SMEs. Allowing these stores to join the program would help channel funds to producers and small-scale entrepreneurs throughout the economy more effectively.
Furthermore, linking this measure to the use of state welfare cards to allow spending in modern trade outlets could broaden public access to quality goods at affordable prices.
2. Create incentives for tax registration by designing measures that benefit tax-registered stores through government programs. This would send a positive signal and motivate small businesses and retailers to comply with tax regulations, especially as the government promotes the adoption of technology and AI systems to manage businesses, encouraging growth and formalization.
3. Maintain employment balance by expanding eligibility to support medium and large businesses, which employ large numbers of people, enabling them to continue operations while overall consumer purchasing power remains weak.
“We believe that if the government broadens assistance to include tax-registered businesses in its next economic stimulus, it will help sustain both grassroots businesses and those driving the country’s tax structure, allowing them to survive the economic downturn together,” Natt concluded.
The Thai Retailers Association is ready to cooperate and support government policies alongside all sectors to enhance the capabilities of retailers at all levels, aiming to restore Thailand’s economy to strong and sustainable growth.