Import prices declined in the March 2026 quarter, driven largely by falling food costs, according to the latest data from the Samoa Bureau of Statistics (SBS)

The Import Price Index (MPI) dropped by 5.2 per cent from the December 2025 quarter, indicating a significant decrease in the cost of imported goods.

The Bureau said the decline was mainly due to a sharp 10.2 per cent drop in food and beverage prices, the largest decrease among all categories. Lower prices for canned meat and sugar were key contributors to the fall.

Prices for animal products also decreased by 7.6 per cent, reflecting reduced costs for meat and dairy imports. Mineral products, including fuel, fell by 3.2 per cent during the quarter.

However, not everything became cheaper. Prices for some vegetables, including potatoes and onions, increased during the quarter, while cooking oils recorded a sharp rise, the report said.  Vegetable products rose by 1.7 per cent, while fats and oils saw a notable surge of 20.8 per cent.

Compared to the same time last year, import prices were also lower, showing a gradual easing in the cost of goods coming into the country, the report said.  The overall import price index declined by 3.1 per cent. Over the four quarters ending March 2026, the index was down 1.9 per cent compared to the previous year.

The report tracks the cost of imported goods, including food, fuel and other everyday items brought into Samoa

The latest figures suggest some relief in import costs, particularly for food items, which may help ease pressure on local prices. However, rising costs in other areas, such as oil, highlight ongoing volatility in international markets.

The Import Price Index measures changes in the cost of imported goods, including freight and insurance, and represents about half of Samoa’s total imports.