Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — “Fifteen food commodities increased in price for this month,” according to July’s Basic Food Index (BFI) report released Aug. 6th by the Commerce Department’s Statistics Division.

It states that the average cost of a 22-pound box of chicken legs decreased by 0.1% while the cost of turkey tails went up by 6.9% “having the biggest month-over-month price increase” followed by the increase in prices for pork spare ribs, corned beef, butter, sugar, soft drinks, rice and bread.

Other food commodities attributed to the hike in July’s BFI, and with minimal increases of less than a percent each, were fresh fish, milk, sausage, ice-cream, canned tuna, eggs and mayonnaise.

According to the BFI report, based on results of seven major food outlets, which were surveyed, there were only two food items that the average price decreased this month — chicken and taro. The rest of the food items not mentioned remain constant in July.