Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Basic Food Index for American Samoa has experienced an unexpected, slight decrease of 0.3% for the month of May after prices took a big leap forward in April. This decline is primarily attributed to falling prices for ten specific food items — many of which are favorites for graduation parties.

Rice down (-3.7%) $5.15, sausage also down (-3.7%) $2.10, fresh fish (-2.3%) 45.07 lb., bananas (-2.0%) $1.50 lb., saimin (-1.8%) $0.55, corned beef (-1.3%) $5.50, sugar (-1.1%) $5.71 for 2-kg, chicken (-1.0%) 10 kg $19.79, bread (-0.8%) $3.55., and pork spare ribs (-0.5%) $1.97 lb.

However, not all prices are following this downward trend. Some items have increased in price over the past month, including imported taro (8.0%) $2.29 LB, butter (2.5%) ½ lb. $2.89, fresh milk (2.4%) $2.57, turkey tail (1.0%) $2.10, soft drinks (0.9%) $1.10, eggs (0.8%) $7.28, tuna (0.4%) $2.37, and ice cream (0.4%) $9.62. Notably, mayonnaise and bottled water have maintained stable prices, showing no changes this month.

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 of 14 major to mid-size retail stores have been selected for the monitoring of basic food costs.

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. 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.
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