Retailers seeking revival of co-payment scheme

Retail operators note that the first half ofthe year has been quite challenging, with some believing the negative factors will continue to impact the second half.

- KUAKUL MORNKUM

In light of this, they are calling for a co-payment scheme to help improve market sentiment in the latter half of the year.

The sluggish economy, coupled with geopolitical uncertainties, both at a regional level, such as the Thai-Cambodian border spat, and the global level, sullied the mood of shoppers in the first half of 2025, said Milin Veraratanaroj, chairman of Tang Ngee Soon Superstore, one of the largest traditional wholesale chains in Udon Thani.

Despite many people having a regular, unchanged level of income, these uncertainties impacted the psychology of shoppers, leading to caution among shoppers who placed a greater priority on saving.

This behaviour and the stagnant economy hampered the retail sector in the Northeast in the first half of the year.