Back to school driving hikes in Education and Communications group

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The inflation rate for American Samoa at the end of the 2nd Quarter (April-June 2025) is currently 1.6%, which is an increase of 0.3 percentage points from the 1st Quarter. The largest expenditure group this quarter is the Education and Communications Group, accounting for 4.4% of spending, with the iPad being the only item that increased in price by a whopping 13.0%.

Meanwhile, the Food Group remains the top annual expenditure, showing a 4.0% increase.

ANNUAL GROUP MOVEMENTS

With a 4.0% increase, the Food Group is the largest expenditure group annually. The Education and Communication Group comes in second at 3.1 %, followed by Apparel Group at 3.0%. The Housing Group and Other Goods and Services Group also increased, Housing by 0.9% and Other Goods and Services by 0.6%. Three groups faced declines and are Entertainment Group (-2. 7%), Transportation Group (-2.3%), and Alcoholic Beverages (-2.3%). The Medical Care Group experienced no change.

QUARTERLY GROUP MOVEMENTS

In the second quarter (April-June), the Food Group experienced an increase of 2.6% in food prices. Food commodities that have the most influence to the increase includes onions (10.2%), flour (10.8%), candies (14.8%), BBQ plates (25.0%), and especially eggs with a 76.1 % increase. Costs for eggs have changed in a matter of months, what was once $3. 90 for a small dozen eggs is now $6.86, $2.96 higher than last quarter.

Other food items that have increased are apples (5.7%), pork ribs (6.3%), tomatoes (9.8%), and chocolate candy (10.0%). Even though most food products have risen in costs, some have seen a decrease, this includes bacon (-9.4%), lamb neck (-9.8%), chicken wings (-13.5%), potatoes (-13.9%), and cabbage (-16.6%). Twenty-three food items, however, have stayed the same which includes cereal, water, bread, bananas, and a McDonald meal.

The Alcoholic Group has declined this quarter by -0.3%. Beer prices have increased in price by 0.2%, wine decreased by -1.6%, and distilled spirits haven't changed at all. With a 1.0% increase this quarter, the Housing Group items have continued to rise. Construction materials (1.8%), refrigerator (2.0%), weed whacker (2.9%), microwave oven (3.1 %), and Other small appliances (8.9%) are some of the items that have gone up in prices.

Housing items that dropped in prices include air conditioner (-2.5%), kitchen utensils (-3.4%), water heater (-3.7%), and ASPA water (-5.0%).

Apparel Group increased to 2.3% this quarter. Out of the eighteen items collected for this group, only three have seen changes. Infants' diapers (-0.4%) and baby wipes (-5.0%) have both decreased. However, men's and boys' footwear have increased by 0.2%. The Medical Care Group has recorded an increase of 1.5%. Not a lot was going on with this group as the only change was an increase in the price of non-prescription drugs by 4.1 %. All the other items stayed the same.

The Entertainment Group decreased by -5.9%, with bingo paper (-1.0%) and flat-screen TV (-5.2%) the only two items in the group that declined. However, the Education and Communication Group increased to 4.4%, with the iPad being the only item that increased in price by 13.0%.

The Other Goods and Services Group has seen a rise of 2.4%. Two good products contributed to the increase in the group and are soap (0.8%) and hair conditioner (8.9%). Nevertheless, three items have gone down in prices: cigarettes (-0.4%), deodorant (-2.3%), and laundry (-3.3%).

The Transportation Group quarterly change is 2.3%, which is an increase from last quarter when it was a negative.

The only item that has increased in this group is the cost of a roundtrip from Pago Pago to Manua at 7.2%. Most items have remained the same since last quarter. In addition, prices for gas and diesel have gone down, gas at -3. 7%, and diesel -6.5%. Average gas and diesel prices are as follows:

Q2 2024     (gas) $4.74 (diesel) $4.52

Q3 2024     (gas) $4/45 (diesel) $4.66

Q4 2024     (gas) $4.28 (diesel) $$/49

Q1 2025     (gas) $4.19 (diesel) $4.48

Q2 2025     (gas) $4.01 (diesel) $4.19

COMPARATIVE COST OF SELECTED GOODS AND SERVICES IN MANU' A

A sample of average commodity prices normally purchased in the regular CPI was used as the survey template with

the same commodity descriptions, weights, detailed specifications, brand names, etc., to make direct comparisons.

Eleven stores in Ta'u, Ofu and Olosega islands were selected and 28 commodities including Food (21 items), Housing (2 items), Alcohol (2 items), Miscellaneous (2 items) and Transportation (1 item) were priced.

The reported cost difference between Tutuila and Manua is 48.93%. A few stores in Manu'a were monitored for the CPI as owners were reportedly off-island due to family reasons.