The Unassuming Economist

From the IMF’s latest report on Thailand:

“Credit and housing markets are also cooling down. Total credit growth—including credit from nonresidents—moderated from 5.8 percent in 2018 to 4.8 percent year-on-year in 2019:Q1, led by declines in corporate borrowing. While loans to households picked up in 2018 and remained buoyant through 2019:Q1—driven by auto loans and new mortgages housing loan demand softened following the tightening of loan-to-value (LTVs) in April 2019, and condo prices declined by 1¾ percent (y/y) also reflecting weaker foreign demand. The housing market is already going through a period of adjustment consistent with the broad-based cooling of the Thai economy.”