Thailand's general inflation rate in April rose 1.0 percent from March and 1.8 percent from April last year, the lowest in three years, according to the Thai Commerce Ministry, according to a local media Tuesday.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Karun Kittisataporn was quoted by the Thai News Agency as saying that Despite a sharp increase in the prices of vegetables and fruit due to drought in Thailand, price rises of meat in April during the Songkran festival, or Thai traditional New Year, and oil prices in the country, inflation in April advanced 1.8 percent, considered the lowest in the past three years.

Karun said it made the average inflation rate in Thailand in the first four months of 2007 stood at 2.3 percent.

It is projected that inflation for 2007 will rise 1.5-2.5 percent on condition that the country's gross national product would grow at 4 percent this year, the baht moves between 34-35 against the U.S. dollar, average interest rates at 3.5-4 percent and that global oil prices stabilize at around 58-65 U.S. dollars per barrel, Karun said.

Source: Xinhua