Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Prices for many food items decreased last month compared to October, resulting in a drop of 1.5% in the November 2018 Basic Food Index (BFI) — which registered at 102.5 points, according to the Commerce Department’s BFI report released Wednesday.

Last month, according to the report, prices decreased in many food items such as chicken legs, fresh fish, taro, pork spare ribs, fresh milk, ice cream, canned tuna, bread, turkey tail, sugar, eggs, corned beef, and butter.

Sausage and mayonnaise were the only two food items that increased in November, and very few items remained unchanged, the report says, noting that since July this year, the average cost of basic food items continued to decline from an all-time high of 107.07 points.

The report was the result of seven major food outlets selected for the monthly survey. There was no explanation on the reason behind the decreases in many food items.

Samoa News however continues to hear people discuss the high cost of food items in Tutuila, and even higher prices in Manu’a.