Hard Times Bite Into Moon Cake Turnover in Thailand.

Oct. 2--The sale of moon cakes has been partially eclipsed by economic worries facing consumers who are also gloomy about world events.

Moon cake producers said sales ahead of the annual festival that took place yesterday were 20 percent down on those a year ago. They blamed the recession and worry about the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the US.

Thai Farmers Bank Research Centre said its survey showed that spending on moon cakes was down by 7 percent.

Of the 1,063 respondents, 18.6 percent said they had reduced purchases, 61.7 percent said they had spent the same amount as last year, and 19.7 percent planned to buy more. However, purchases averaged six pieces per buyer, down from eight a year ago.

Vitoon Sila-on, the business development manager at S&P Syndicate Plc, a major bakery, agreed that purchases were down. However, the chain had started selling the cakes earlier than last year and ahead of its rivals. That meant the number of unsold cakes was between 20,000 and 30,000, down from more than 50,000 last year.

"Demand declined partly because consumers may have shifted to buying other varieties of less expensive Chinese cakes instead."

The Chinese pan cake, for example, is 50 percent cheaper than a moon cake which costs 50 to 70 baht.