Businesses yesterday pledged to freeze prices of basic consumer goods until September to ease consumers' financial hardships in light of recent political unrest. Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai said the agreement would cover products such as soap, toothpaste, detergent, fish sauce, cooking palm oil and rice for another three months from the scheduled end of voluntary caps at the end of June.

 She discussed the proposal yesterday with 69 representatives of consumer product manufacturers, department stores and trade associations.

However, officials may allow some increases, particularly for steel products and tinplate as raw material costs in the world market have risen. Steel and tinplate makers are likely to receive approval to raise prices in the third quarter.

In light of rising finished food prices, Mrs Porntiva said the ministry asked leading department stores such as Tesco Lotus, Big C and Carrefour to arrange special corners to sell low-priced products including rice, eggs and pork.

The ministry is also seeking cabinet approval to set aside 50,000 tonnes of tapioca chips and 10,000 tonnes of maize from state stocks to distributed at low prices to animal raisers, to help cut their costs and keep meat prices in check.