Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Basic Food Index (BFI) for American Samoa has reported a decline of 1.1% for the month of May 2026. One of the most significant drops is the price of eggs, which has decreased by 15.2%. This month, the average cost of eggs is $1.96, the lowest price recorded since the beginning of the year, following last year's price spike caused by the egg shortage.

Other products with price decrease this month include turkey tail (-6.6%) $2.40 per lb, fish (-4.9%) $4.81 lb, saimin (-1.7%) 59¢ pkg, bananas (-1.3%) $1/56 lb, taro (-0.9%) $2.16 lb, butter (-0.6%) $5.02, and pork spare ribs (-0.5%) $1.91 lb.

Despite the decline in the BFI, several commodities have increased, including the costs of chicken (1.6%) $19.88 for 10 lb box, sugar (1.4%) $3.65 2kg, sausage (0.9%) $2.27 lb, rice (0.6%) 5 lbs for $4.98, milk (0.4%) $2.55 a carton, and tuna (0.4%) $2.36 a can.

Food items that stayed the same price as last month include soda $1.12, water 50¢, ice cream 2 ltrs for $9.51, bread $3.60, mayonnaise $4.98, and corned beef $5.81 a can.

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.