In May 2021, Thailand's inflation rate increased by 2.44%, marking the second consecutive month of rise, primarily due to higher oil and fresh food prices. However, the inflation rate was lower than the previous year, largely due to government initiatives to reduce electricity and water costs. The five-month average inflation rate in 2021 was 0.83%, with core inflation at 0.23%. The Office of Trade Policy and Strategy predicts that inflation will continue to rise in June 2021, but at a slower pace than May. The Thai economy is expected to expand properly with an inflation rate of 0.7-1.7% in 2021, but the target may be revised if the situation changes significantly.