Prices of ready-to-eat meals, or fast foods, have soared 5-20 baht per dish across the nation, with prices in the South increasing the most, a survey has found.
The Department of Internal Trade, part of the Commerce Ministry, recently surveyed prices of ready-to-eat meals across the country and found prices were higher than last year’s by an average 5-10 baht per plate, Thai media reported on Thursday.
The survey followed complaints that prices of fast dishes remained high although the price of fuel has been cut several times.
The survey found ready-to-eat food prices in the South, particularly in tourist provinces of Krabi, Songkhla, Surat Thani and Phuket, were the higher than other regions, with meals rising by 5-20 baht per plate.
The North saw the smallest increase, followed by the Central Plains and the Northeast.
For takeouts, ready-to-eat meals in all provinces were selling at 15-50 baht per small plastic bag. In the North, food prices were cheapest at 15-30 baht per bag, while meal prices were most expensive in the South, with 25-50 per bag.
Fried rice with pork and egg averaged 25-50 baht per plate. In the South and the Northeast this dish was sold at 30-50 baht per plate, while the North and the Central Plains had the lowest prices at 25-35 baht.
Department chief Boonyarit Kalayanamit said the department planned to expand its cheap food alliance, known as "Noo Nid Pachim" shops, by 10,000 outlets per year. Currently, there are 3,000 Noo Nid Pachim outlets across the country.
These outlets were a viable alternative for hungry people, selling ready-to-eat food at no more than 35 baht per dish, said Mr Boonyarit.