Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A jump in price for ten food items — led by imported taro — contributed to the 1.9% increase in the Basic Food Index (BFI) for July 2023, according to the BFI report released this week by the Commerce Department’s Statistics & Analysis Division.

DOC had reported last month a decrease in the BFI for June, and many consumers had hoped that the trend continued in July and throughout the summer months. But that does not appear to be the case with the BFI for July. But consumers who spoke with Samoa News are still hopeful for a drop in price for food items in August and throughout the year.

The BFI for July increased by 1.9% and the ten food commodities that contributed to this month’s increase are taro (9.8%), a case of chicken (7.3%), sugar (7.2%), bread (3.0%), mayonnaise (2.6%), pork spare ribs (1.5%), butter (1.1%), ice cream (0.9%) and sausage chuck wagon (0.5%).

Data in the BFI report shows “imported” taro was $1.96 per pound in June but increased to $2.16 per found in July. The price in May this year was $2.05 per pound.

Samoa News notes that taro is imported from Samoa, where there have been reports of an increase in prices.

Data also shows that the price for a “10 kg case of chicken” was $16.52 in June but jumped to $17.73 in July. Furthermore, a “2 kg bag of Chelsea sugar” cost $3.49 in June but went up to $3.74 in the latest report.

Some food commodities that have decreased in July, according to the BFI report, are soda (-3.2%), rice (-1.9%), Fresh Milk (-1.8%), banana (-1.0%), canned tuna (-0.6%), turkey tail (-0.4%), and corned beef (-0.3%).

Other common commodities such as water (bottles), fresh fish, ramen, and eggs remain the same, the report says.

A total of 14 major to mid-sized retail stores have been selected for monitoring basic food costs on Tutuila island — from the far-west side to the far-east side.

DOC notes that the BFI is not to be confused with the Quarterly Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is a comprehensive standard measure of inflation and the cost of living in American Samoa.

For more information, please contact DOC’s Statistics & Analysis Division at 633-0120 or email americansamoastatistics@doc.as.gov.