American Samoa’s Basic Food Index continues to inch down

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — For the third month in a row, American Samoa’s Basic Food Index (BFI) continues to slowly inch down. However, most of the food items monitored in the BFI have stayed the same price as last month, including butter, chicken, ice cream, pork spare ribs, rice, soda, sugar, taro, tuna, and water.

After making an adjustment in May’s Basic Food Index (BFI) figures — adjusting the price drop from 0.3% to 0.2% — the Department of Commerce Statistics and Analysis Division released June’s figures showing a drop in price of American Samoa's BFI for the month of June to -0.5%.

Some of the food commodities that have decreased are mayonnaise $4.90 (-0.4%), fresh milk $2.55 (-0.8%), sausage $2.15 (-0.9%), fish $4.93 (-2.8%), banana $1.42 lb. (-5.3%), and eggs $6.68 (-8.2%). Even with the overall decrease in the BFI, several food items saw price increases. These include turkey tail $2.13 (1.4%), corned beef $5.60 (1.8%), saimin .56¢ (1.8%), and bread $3.63 (2.3%).

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.

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.