Thailand Taps Family-Run Retail Giants to Ease Cost-of-Living Pressure

Thailand cost of living policy is leaning on its biggest family-controlled conglomerates to help curb living costs, with retailers tied to the Chearavanont, Chirathivat and Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi families agreeing to sell house-brand food, toiletries and other essentials at discounts of 25% to 50% under a government-backed Thais Helping Thais campaign.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul launched the programme as his new administration seeks to shield households from rising prices without putting further strain on public finances.

The move comes as higher energy and production costs lift prices of staples, even though headline inflation has stayed negative for 11 straight months.

Thailand’s largest business group on the same day raised its 2026 inflation forecast to 2%-3% from 0.2%-0.7% and cut its growth outlook to 1.2%-1.6% from 1.6%-2.0%. The Thailand cost of living policy shows how the government is using private-sector support to ease household pressure.