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Rise in local egg prices stems from mainland bird flu outbreak

basic food index graphic
reporters@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A shortage of several food commodities from last month persists, and one food commodity—eggs — has increased in price by more than 30% to 33.8%, according to the Basic Food Index (BFI), released this week by the Commerce Department’s Statistics & Analysis Division.

A multi-state outbreak of bird flu on the mainland is leading to a jump in the price of eggs around the U.S. — an unhappy reminder for consumers that a range of unforeseen developments can trigger inflation. 

The last time egg prices were this high was in March of 2023 when they went up by 22%. Normally, a small dozen eggs costs about $2.38, but right now, they cost $3.19.  In addition, there was a rise in the prices of eight other food items this month. These include bananas (8.9%), butter (8.1%), sausages (4.7%), turkey tail (4.6%), soda (2.3%), mayonnaise (1.1%), ramen (0.7%), and bread (0.6%).

Out of the 20 food items that were observed, the prices of ten food products decreased. The food items listed include milk (-7.0%), fish (-4.6%), ribs (-3.0%), ice cream (-2.7%), chicken legs ( 2.3%), rice (-2.1%), sugar (-2.1%), taro (-1.9%), tuna (-0.4%), and corned beef (-1.9%).

One good thing, throughout price increases and decreases, the cost of water remains constant.

The Basic Food Index is a monthly rapid assessment of basic food items, to monitor the cost and availability of these 20 food products throughout the community.

A major upgrade to the survey coverage was implemented at the beginning of 2022, when 7 additional stores were included in the data collection process, extending coverage from Se’etaga in the West to Amouli in the East. In total, 14 major to mid-size retail stores have been selected for the monitoring of basic food costs.

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