Prices for a basic basket of basic food items vary from supermarket to supermarket. A survey was conducted in three supermarkets of 14 food items.

The list included 4kg flour, 10kg rice, 2kg sugar, a packet of salt, one packet of tea, two packets of milk, two tinned fish, two cans of tuna, one corned beef, 1kg chicken legs, toilet paper, soap, toothpaste and washing powder.

The cheapest of the brands were looked at and it was found that at Farmer Joe Supermarket the items totalled $142.20, at Frankie Supermarket it was $132.60 while it was $138.70 at the 24/7 Supermarket.

A few shoppers spoke out on what they thought of food prices.

Segifili Mataia, a customer at Farmer Joe Supermarket was asked about his thoughts on the cost of food and how much he spends on shopping now compared to last year. 

“As a buyer of every supermarket in town, I am extremely dissatisfied with the high cost of goods in our nation. As a government employee, I can attest that the money I make from my job is insufficient to provide for my family's requirements," he said.

“The world is changing, and food prices are still rising. In the past, we could get over 10 goods for $100, and things have changed, but right now, I can only buy five or six items for $100.

“I understand that life is difficult these days, but why not lower the prices of the items? Perhaps this will encourage more people to go shopping."

A young man from Matautu Lefaga, Timezen Failua said the cost of food is no joke.

“In my opinion, the new government is the main cause of the price increase and I feel terrible for the other families where no one is working because they don't know where to get money and will have to work on their plantations and grow crops to sell to make money and buy products from the store," he said. 

“Previously $1000 would get you more items than now."

Junior Leituala, 24, said policies need to be put in place to ensure that prices are brought down and it supermarkets can make a profit as well.

"I know life is expensive, but if we look at other countries by now, they are more expensive than us," he said.

“Everything was inexpensive in the previous several years, but as life progresses, so do the prices of goods.

“Additionally, the cost of shipping to deliver the majority of the goods is high, therefore I believe that these price increases for the goods are not bad, and I hope that people will understand.

“The one thing that saddens me is that our people are the ones that don't make enough money to purchase groceries."