A report has revealed that due to increased prices for meals in Samoa has led to a 6 per cent increase recorded for the restaurant index for January 2022. 

The findings were revealed in a Samoa Bureau of Statistics report titled: “Consumer Price Index January 2022.”

The C.P.I. measures the rate of inflation for Samoa and is designed to measure the change in prices for the goods purchased by households in Samoa. 

It measures the change in prices by comparing the prices for a basket of goods and services within the collection period with the price for the same goods in a base period. The S.B.S. report highlighted both increases and decreases in prices for various components.

The C.P.I. for January 2022 recorded a decrease of 0.4 per cent compared to the previous month. Another decrease of 1.9 per cent found in the transport index was driven by reduced fuel prices.

“The restaurants index increased by 6 per cent,” reads the report. “Increased prices recorded for meal is reflected in the 6 per cent increase in the restaurants index.”

However, the average annual inflation for the year ended January 2022 was 4.5 per cent whereas the C.P.I. went up by 10.8 per cent when compared to the same period last year.

“The Consumer Price Index for January 2022 was 0.4 per cent lower than in December 2021 and 10.8 per cent higher than January 2021.

“The decrease of the Imported Goods Component by 0.9 per cent reflects lower prices for fuel and imported food, which were also the main contributors to the decrease of 0.4 per cent in the all items C.P.I.

“The local component recorded an increase of 0.1 per cent from the previous month.”

Furthermore, the report added that the 0.4 per cent decrease in the overall index was mainly due to a decrease of 1.9 per cent in the transport index.

“Food & non-alcoholic beverages and housing, water, electricity gas & other fuel indices also decreased by 0.6 and 0.3 per cent respectively.

“On the other hand, increases were registered for the restaurants index with 6 per cent, clothing & footwear index with 1.3 per cent, furnishing, household equipment & maintenance with 1.1 per cent and miscellaneous goods & services index with 0.1 per cent.

“No changes were recorded for the alcoholic beverages & tobacco, health, communication, recreation & culture and education indices.”

In addition, the report stated that the 0.9 decrease for imported goods component of the C.P.I. was mainly due to lower prices recorded for imported food, fuel (petrol & diesel), liquid gas and kerosene.

But increased prices recorded for meal and car repair (labour charge) have resulted in the 0.1 per cent increase in the local goods component.

“Lower prices recorded for fuel (petrol & diesel) is reflected in the 1.9 per cent decrease in the transport index.

“The 0.6 per cent decrease in the food and non-alcoholic beverages index was mainly due to lower prices recorded for chicken leg quarter, taro, maggie noodle, fresh fish (piece & large), pig trotter and mutton neck. 

“Increased prices recorded for school uniform was reflected in the 1.3 per cent increase in the clothing and footwear index.”

Also, the increased prices recorded for school uniform was reflected in the 1.3 per cent increase in the clothing and footwear index.

“The furnishing, household, equipment and maintenance index recorded an increase of 1.1 per cent due to the increase in prices recorded for washing powder, mosquito coil and clothing chest.

“The average annual inflation rate for the year ended January 2022 was 4.5 per cent. For the twelve months ending January 2021, the inflation rate was negative 2.4 per cent.”