The Consumer Price Index for September 2023 increased by 1.3 percent compared to the same month of the previous year.
This is outlined in a report by the Samoa Bureau of Statistics. The increase was mainly influenced by the increase in the Local goods component by 5.5 percent from the same month last year due to higher prices for local food, used sedan vehicles, and new pickup vehicles.
On the other hand, the Imported goods component fell 2.2 percent on a year-on-year (y-o-y) basis due to lower prices for imported food and fuel.
Data shows the percentage changes over the same month last year in the CPI by all Divisions from September 2022 to September 2023.
Food and non-alcoholic Beverages was the most significant contributor to the 1.3 percent rise in the CPI in September 2023, with a contribution of 2.4 percentage-points (pp) to the overall increase in September 2023.
The most significant drivers of this within the group were sugar (up 33.5%), corned beef (up 22.8%) fresh fish (up 21.5%).
