Flu could knock 2.2 percentage points off economy (Bangkok Post)
The H1N1 flu pandemic could cause the economy to contract by 2.2 percentage points this year in a worst-case scenario, the Fiscal Policy Office says. The Finance Ministry unit estimates that the flu could cause the economy to contract by 0.51 to 2.2 percentage points. A base scenario, where the flu has a high immediate impact but a rapid recovery is seen, would hurt the economy by 0.85 percentage points. The FPO last month estimated that the Thai economy would contract by 3% this year, with a range of -2.5 to -3.5% overall. But the forecast did not include estimates on the impact of the flu, which has so far claimed the lives of 65 people in Thailand with over 8,800 local cases recorded.
H1N1 could knock 2.2 percentage points off economy.
The H1N1 flu pandemic could cause the economy to contract by 2.2 percentage points this year in a worst-case scenario, the Fiscal Policy Office says. The Finance Ministry unit estimates that the flu could cause the economy to contract by 0.51 to 2.2 percentage points.
A base scenario, where the flu has a high immediate impact but a rapid recovery is seen, would hurt the economy by 0.85 percentage points. The FPO last month estimated that the Thai economy would contract by 3% this year, with a range of -2.5 to -3.5% overall.
But the forecast did not include estimates on the impact of the flu, which has so far claimed the lives of 65 people in Thailand with over 8,800 local cases recorded.
