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This article was written by

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

SINGAPORE, September 07, 2026 – Despite the Middle East energy shock, growth of the Thailand’s economy has been better than expected, supported by investment, fiscal spending and technology exports. However, growth remains uneven; technology-linked sectors have expanded strongly while traditional industries, particularly the SME segments, remain weak.

The current wave of FDI- and technology-driven investment offers Thailand a major opportunity to lift its growth potential and accelerate its economic transformation. Realizing this opportunity will require proactive measures to broaden its spillovers to productivity, employment and income across the economy.

This preliminary assessment follows AMRO’s Annual Consultation Visit to Thailand from August 24 to September 4, 2026. The mission was led by Group Head and Lead Economist Allen Ng, with AMRO Director/CEO Yasuto Watanabe and Chief Economist Dong He joining policy meetings with the authorities.

Economic developments and outlook

“Growth is projected at 2.4 percent in both 2026 and 2027, supported by continued private investment, fiscal spending and technology-related exports,” said Ng. “The priority now is to harness the current investment wave to drive broader economic transformation by deepening domestic linkages, boosting productivity, creating jobs, and raising incomes.”

FDI-backed projects, particularly in digital infrastructure and electronics, continued to strengthen the investment cycle in the first half of 2026. The investment pipeline could support medium-term growth, but the benefits have yet to spread widely across domestic firms and workers.

Headline inflation is projected at 1.6 percent in 2026 and 1.3 percent in 2027. Price pressures should remain contained as the energy price increase following the Middle East conflict recedes, although cost pass-through and food prices warrant monitoring.

Risks and vulnerabilities

Risks remain tilted to the downside, as reliance on a narrow set of drivers leaves the outlook vulnerable to external and domestic shocks. A sharp slowdown in global AI and technology-related activity could weaken exports, FDI and investment, while further weakness in household incomes and vulnerable sectors could become self-reinforcing. Energy, trade and weather shocks would pose additional headwinds.

On the upside, stronger external demand and investment activity, alongside wider domestic spillovers could lift growth above the baseline.

Source : Thailand: From Investment-Led Growth to Broad-Based Transformation – ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office – AMRO ASIA

Just as the summer travel season comes to a close, Americans are facing the most expensive Labor Day gas prices on record, extending the squeeze on household budgets for millions hitting the road over the holiday weekend.

AAA says nearly 40 million Americans are expected to drive over the holiday, but they’ll be paying unprecedented prices at the pump.

The national average for regular gasoline reached $4.14 per gallon on Monday, up about 4 cents from last week and nearly 95 cents higher than a year ago.

FORGET GASOLINE: THIS OVERLOOKED FUEL COULD RAISE THE PRICE OF NEARLY EVERYTHING YOU BUY

Americans are facing the highest Labor Day gas prices on record as millions travel over the holiday weekend. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images / Getty Images)

If that average holds, it will shatter the previous Labor Day record of $3.82, set in 2012, and mark the first time the national average has exceeded $4 per gallon during the holiday weekend.

The unusually high prices come even though gasoline demand typically falls after the peak summer driving season.

Normally, motorists begin to see relief at the pump after Labor Day as vacation travel winds down and fuel demand eases. This year, however, elevated crude oil prices tied to the conflict involving Iran have largely offset that seasonal trend.

Fighting in the region has raised concerns about disruptions to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil.

Those concerns have kept crude oil prices near $90 a barrel, preventing the seasonal decline in gas prices motorists usually see after Labor Day.

TRUMP’S AMBITIOUS ENERGY BET COULD BE A WINNING HAND AS THE WORLD BURNS MORE OIL, GAS THAN EVER

A satellite image shows the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, vital for global energy supply. (Amanda Macias/Fox News Digital / Getty Images)

A satellite view of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical choke point for global energy supply, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. (Gallo Images/Orbital Horizon/Copernicus Sentinel Data 2025/Amanda Macias/Fox News Digital)

While the national average is $4.14, prices vary significantly by state.

California continues to have the nation’s highest average gas prices at $5.78 per gallon, followed by Washington at $5.47, Hawaii at $5.41, Oregon at $4.98, Alaska at $4.96, Nevada at $4.91, Idaho at $4.62, Arizona at $4.52, Utah at $4.42 and Montana at $4.38.

BESSENT PREDICTS OIL PRICES COULD DROP AS LOW AS $40 AFTER IRAN CONFLICT ENDS AND SUPPLY FLOODS MARKET

Concerns about global oil supplies have kept gasoline prices elevated, making this the most expensive Labor Day on record at the pump. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images / Getty Images)

At the other end of the spectrum, Indiana has the nation’s cheapest gas at $3.44 per gallon. 

It is followed by Texas at $3.69, Oklahoma and Mississippi at $3.71, Louisiana at $3.75, Arkansas at $3.77, South Carolina and Kansas at $3.78, Alabama at $3.79 and Wisconsin at $3.80.

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Whether motorists finally see relief in the weeks ahead will depend largely on crude oil prices. If tensions in the Middle East ease and oil prices retreat, drivers could begin to see the seasonal decline in gasoline prices that typically follows Labor Day.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently released a report projecting how the U.S. workforce will grow from 2025 to 2035 and what professions will see the largest increases in jobs as the economy evolves.

Employment projections from the BLS estimate that the U.S. economy will add a total of 5.9 million jobs from 2025 to 2035, lifting total employment from 170.3 million to 176.2 million in that period. That would amount to a 3.5% growth rate, which is slower than the 10.9% growth rate from 2015 to 2025.

The report also detailed what it projects as the 10 fastest-growing occupations from 2025 to 2035, with the list dominated by roles in the healthcare industry, as well as some in the energy sector.

“Because the likelihood of experiencing health complications increases with age, the aging population is expected to boost demand for a wide variety of healthcare and social services, including home health and personal care services,” the BLS wrote.

PRIVATE SECTOR ADDED 38,000 JOBS IN AUGUST, BELOW EXPECTATIONS, ADP SAYS

Nurse practitioners are projected as the fastest-growing occupation over the next 10 years. (iStock)

Nurse practitioners were at the top of the list, with the profession’s employment expected to grow by 41% over the 2025 to 2035 period. That growth rate represents an estimated gain of about 137,800 nurse practitioner jobs.

The second-fastest growing occupation in the report is solar photovoltaic panel installer, with the role expected to grow 36.5%, or about 11,300 jobs added through 2035.

BLS noted that demand for electricity “is expected to grow significantly” over that period, boosting demand for roles like solar panel installers and another role ranked further down the list.

LOWE’S LAUNCHES MAJOR EFFORT TO HELP CLOSE AMERICA’S SKILLED TRADES GAP

Solar panel installers are projected as the second-fastest growing role in percentage terms in the BLS report. (Reuters/Mike Blake/File Photo)

Data scientists ranked third, with employment growing by 34.6%, or 95,400 jobs, while wind turbine technicians were projected as the fourth-fastest growing role with a growth rate of 29.5%, or 3,500 jobs in the 2025-2035 period.

Medical and health services manager roles were projected to grow by 24.2%, with the largest nominal employment growth of 155,100 jobs added in that time.

Physical therapist assistants were the sixth-fastest growing role in the BLS report, with projected growth of 23%, or 26,200 jobs, through 2035.

BILL GATES OUTLINES THE STAKES OF THE AI ERA: ‘GREATEST EQUALIZER… OR WORST SOURCE OF INJUSTICE’

Wind turbine technicians ranked as the fourth-fastest growing job in the BLS projections. (Jim West/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Continuing the trend of healthcare roles dominating the 10 fastest-growing roles over the next decade, psychiatric technicians ranked seventh on the list at a 22.3% growth rate and 36,000 jobs added in the next decade.

The three roles that rounded out the list of the 10 fastest growing occupations from 2025 to 2035 were computer and information research scientists, with growth of 21.8% and 8,400 jobs; occupational therapy assistants, with a 21.5% growth rate and 11,200 jobs; and ophthalmic medical technicians, with a 21.4% growth rate and 15,500 jobs.

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Thai economy in July grew with support from global technology and AI cycle, calm from Middle East conflict, and government stimulus. Exports, tourism, consumption, manufacturing, and government spending showed positive trends. Key issues to watch are technology cycle sustainability, geopolitical conflicts, tourism recovery, government measures, and El Niño impact.

Summary

• The Thai economy in July expanded from the previous month, supported by the ongoing global technology and artificial intelligence (AI) cycle, the easing of disruptions from the Middle East conflict, and government stimulus measures.

  o Merchandise exports continued to expand, driven primarily by electronics products. Meanwhile, private investment softened following strong growth in the previous period.

  o Tourism receipts and foreign tourist arrivals increased, mainly supported by the gradual recovery in flight capacity, particularly on long-haul routes.

  o Private consumption increased, driven by higher spending on services, supported by government measures and improved domestic tourism activity during the extended holiday period.

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  o Manufacturing and service activities improved, in line with higher merchandise exports and tourism activity.

  o Government expenditure expanded, driven by higher disbursements by both the central government and state-owned enterprises.

• Headline inflation declined, mainly due to lower energy prices, while core inflation increased slightly, reflecting the gradual pass-through of higher costs to consumer prices.
• Key issues to monitor: (1) the sustainability of the global technology and artificial intelligence cycle, (2) developments in geopolitical conflicts and international trade protectionist policies, (3) the recovery of the tourism sector, (4) the impact of government measures, and (5) El Niño developments.

Source : https://www.bot.or.th/en/news-and-media/news/news-20260831.html

Jaguar Land Rover’s decision to shed 4,000 jobs comes after the carmaker has travelled down a very rough road.

The company has seen sales fall in all of its major markets and it has been dealing with the consequences of a devastating cyber-attack that paralysed production last year.

At the same time, it has been investing billions in an effort to reinvent itself for an electric future, in which it is likely to face intense competition from aggressively expanding Chinese brands.

Executives have now decided a major overhaul is needed.

One of the main concerns for JLR is China. Not so long ago, it was seen as a land of opportunity for western carmakers, where the rapidly expanding middle classes seemed to have an inexhaustible appetite for upmarket foreign-badged vehicles.

JLR, along with other European brands such as BMW, Audi and Mercedes Benz, was all too willing to meet that demand, at a time when the European market was extremely crowded and growth hard to find.

Today, things are very different. The past decade has seen rapid growth among domestic Chinese carmakers, firmly backed by their government, which has been determined to make the country a leading player in electric vehicles.

This has created an environment of intense competition, in which local manufacturers have rapidly raised the bar in terms of technology and development speed.

That, combined with a slowdown in the Chinese economy, has made China a much more difficult market for European brands.

JLR’s sales in China fell from a high water mark of 146,000 cars in 2017 to just 62,400 in the last financial year. At the same time, competition and a new luxury car tax have hit profit margins.

All of this has resulted in a sharp fall in revenues from the region. JLR is not alone in this; the Volkswagen Group, for example, has also seen its earnings in China pummeled – a major factor in its decision to axe 100,000 jobs by the end of the decade.

The state of the Chinese market has had another consequence for European carmakers, including JLR. Faced with cut-throat competition, they have been flexing their muscles abroad.

Companies such as BYD and Chery have been rapidly gaining market share in the UK and Europe – with the Jaecoo 7 the third best-selling car in this country over the first half of the year.

Analysts say traditional brands will face an uphill struggle to compete with new rivals, who can sell cars more cheaply and develop them more quickly.