[US arms payments to Ukraine plummet by 55%, execution slows significantly] (1) The US Security Assistance Program for Ukraine (USAI) has received $32.49 billion in congressional funding since 2022. The Pentagon has signed contracts for the full amount, but as of the end of March, only $19 billion had been paid, with the remaining $13.5 billion still in the contract execution phase. (2) The payment pace has slowed significantly: the average monthly payment in 2025 was $587 million, but it dropped to $265 million in the first quarter of 2026, a decrease of about 55%. This change reflects a slowdown in the actual execution of orders that have been placed, rather than a reduction in the total number of orders. (3) Since January 2025, the US has not made any new direct arms supplies from its stockpile, and USAI has become the main channel for military aid. Russia continues to oppose this, arguing that arms supplies to Ukraine hinder negotiations and involve NATO in the conflict, and that any materials containing weapons are legitimate targets for Russian strikes.

[Survey: Thailand's Q2 GDP May Only Grow by 1.9%, Supported by Government Spending and Consumption, Net Exports a Drag] (1) A median survey of five economists by The Wall Street Journal indicates that Thailand's Q2 GDP growth is expected to be 1.9% year-on-year, a significant slowdown from Q1's 2.8%. (2) ANZ research analyst Kausani Basak points out that the government's ongoing co-payments program may have boosted private consumption; meanwhile, the recovery in recurrent spending and faster growth in capital expenditures led to a rebound in government spending in Q2. (3) However, with real imports rising steadily, net exports are expected to contribute less to growth this quarter; the data will be officially released next Monday.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the "Agricultural Product Wholesale Price 200 Index" was 115.19 on August 14, up 0.29 points from the previous day, and the "Vegetable Basket" product wholesale price index was 115.63, up 0.33 points from the previous day.