(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-09-09 20:02

BANGKOK -- Almost one-fifth of all Thais are facing economic hardship as they do not have enough money for daily expenses, a latest survey showed.

The poll, which was released on Sunday by the official Thai News Agency, was conducted by the country's famous Assumption University's ABAC Poll and surveyed 1,461 people aged over 18 in Bangkok and the surrounding areas between August 25 and September 8.

The poll result found that slightly over half of all Thai families and individuals -- 50.4 percent -- had enough money to spend, but could barely manage to save anything.

Meanwhile, 31.4 percent said they could save a little and 18.2 percent said they were living in debt.

When the respondents were asked about why Thailand is now facing economic sluggishness, 36.4 percent of them said it was resulted by reason that the people do not save money while 20.3 percent blame rising inflation and 17.7 percent say it is resulted from corruption in the country.