PHUKET: Phuket has no floods but there are shortages in supermarkets and huge increases in the prices of vegetables are already evident at the Phuket City wholesale market.

If the besieged Pheu Thai government goes ahead with its commitment to the 300 baht minimum daily wage on Phuket and in six other provinces from April 1, there's a huge spurt in inflation on the way.

Vegetables are reckoned to have doubled in price in the past two weeks - if they can be found on sale.

Basic items such as bottled water and rice are disappearing from shelves on Phuket quickly, where they are available.

Sellers at the Phuket City market today said that string beans that cost 30 baht a kilo were now on sale at 60 baht a kilo. Thai broccoli that was available at 80 baht a kilo was now fetching 170 baht a kilo.

Transport costs have risen as well, so the higher prices are being passed on to Phuket consumers.

As one market vendor said, Phuket people still had much to be grateful for, and the island has a so far prosperous-seeming high season to look forward to while large parts of Thailand and Bangkok are burdened with heavy flooding.

Long term, though, the dramatic shortages and the accompanying rises in prices can only make for a difficult period for the country's economy.