Despite an uptick in consumer spending sparked by the sales tax rebate, the government's handling of the economy is ranked lowest in a Nida poll released on Sunday. The poll was conducted on Dec 13-14 on 1,250 people aged 18 and over throughout the country. Asked in what fields they think the Prayut government has performed poorly, 58.16% mentioned the economy; 47.76% political reforms and preparations for elections, and 47.28% its handling of tensions in the southern border provinces. According to the respondents, the three areas in which the government has acted most effectively are financial assistance for new-born babies (75.68%); forest reclamation and other land problems (64.80%); and regulations concerning footpath vendors, public vans, public beaches and the encroachment of public land (62.56%). Asked whether they are impressed by the overall performance of the Prayut government during the past year, 23.68% said they are very impressed; 34.56% fairly impressed; 21.60% little impressed; 19.68% not impressed at all, and 0.48% had no comment.

Source: Bangkok Post December 17, 2017 02:15 UTC