Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The inflation rate for American Samoa has risen again, increasing by 1.0% after a drop in the last quarter of 2025. In addition, the quarterly percentage change rate registered at a 0.5% increase.

The Transportation Group has the highest expenditure, with an annual increase of 8.3%. Other Goods and Services Group follows with an increase of 0.9%, while the Food Group increases by 0.8%. The Education & Communication Group has also seen an increase, by 0.1%.

During the same time period, four groups have experienced declines. The first group is Alcoholic Beverages with a decrease of -3.8%. Following this, the Entertainment Group fell by- 2.7%. Additionally, the Apparel Group and Housing Group both saw declines, Apparel by -0.9%, and Housing by - 0.6%. One group actually experienced no change, and that group is the Medical Care Group.

QUARTERLY GROUP MOVEMENTS

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the Food Group increased this quarter. Two food commodities have contributed greatly to the increase by more than 10 percent: meat pie and pancake mix. The average cost of a meat pie last year and last quarter was $2.78; now the average price is $3.50. As for the cost of pancake mix, it was $4.19 and rose to $4.76 this quarter.

Nearly 53 percent of the food items monitored in the CPI have all gone up, which includes mackerel (6.4%), turkey wings (4.9%), cereal (3.9%), tea bags (2.8%), and salt beef (2.0%).

Despite most of the food items experiencing price increases, a few commodities have seen a decrease this quarter. Some of these foods consist of chicken wings (-1.4%), canned coffee (-3.9%), breadfruit (-4.4%), spaghetti (-5.2%), and pizza (-9.4%).

Nevertheless, 29 percent of food products have remained at the same price as last, containing flour, long bread, water, soda, and bananas.

The Entertainment Group has experienced an increase of 3.5%. Among the items, only two have had changes in price. Bingo paper has increased in price by 1.8%, while cat food has decreased by 2.6%. The remaining 20 items have not changed in price.

Five groups in the CPI have gone through declines this quarter. The one with the highest decline is the Education & Communication Group with a -4.3% decrease. Despite this drop, there were no price changes for any items in this category during the quarter.

The Apparel Group follows with a decrease of-2.3%. For this group, most of the items have not seen any change in costs, with only four items going through price changes. The two items that have decreased are baby wipes (-1.0%) and t-shirts (2.3%). Meanwhile, men's and boys footwear (0.6%) and women's and girls' footwear (1.0%) prices have risen.

With a -1. 9% decrease, the Medical Care Group only has two items that have dropped in price, nonprescription drugs (-0.4%) and band-Aids (-1.0%), whereas most items have remained unchanged.

The last group is Other Goods and Services with a -0.8% decrease. Like the Apparel Group, this group also has only four items out of the many items monitored that have changed. Hair conditioner (-0.7%) and hair shampoo (-2.8%) have reduced in price; while deodorant (0.2%) and toothpaste (0.9%) prices have gone up.

This quarter, the Alcohol Group is the only group that has not seen a change. Prices for beer, wine, and distilled spirits have stayed the same.

Following the biggest decline last quarter, the Transportation Group is the highest expenditure group this quarter, with a 5.2% increase.

 One transportation item that contributed significantly to this increase is the cost of airfare, rising by 13.0%. This is due to the implementation of new travel fees and taxes that have increased the cost of airfares. On the other hand, the cost of gas and diesel has gone down. Gas by -0.2% and diesel by -2.5%. Average gas and diesel prices are as follows:

Q1/2025     $4.19 (gas) $4/48 (diesel)

Q2/2025     $4.01 (gas) $4.19 (diesel)

Q3/2025     $4/12 (gas) $4/39 (diesel)

Q4/2025     $4/06 (gas) $4.38 (diesel)

Q1/2026     $4.01 (gas) $4.27 (diesel)

COMPARATIVE COST OF SELECTED GOODS AND SERVICES IN MANU'A

A sample of average commodity prices normally purchased in the regular CPI was used as the survey template with the same commodity descriptions, weights, detailed specifications, brand names, etc., to make direct comparisons. Eleven stores in Ta'u, Ofu and Olosega islands were selected and 28 commodities including Food (21 items), Housing (2 items), Alcohol (2 items), Miscellaneous (2 items) and Transportation (1 item) were priced.

The reported cost difference between Tutuila and Manu’a is 79.55%.

One of the noticeable challenges that frequently arise during data collection in Manu’a is that stores are often closed since the owners are off-island, or there is a limited selection of products available due to high transportation and shipping costs.

(Source: AS Dept. of Commerce)