The new price control order issued by the Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labour (M.C.I.L.) shows an increase in the prices for some of the goods. 

The order was signed by His Highness Head of State, Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aletoa Sualauvi II on 12 September 2023 on the advice of the Cabinet pursuant to section 94 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2016. 

According to the ministry, the prices for the goods included in the order came into effect from Friday 22 September 2023 and wholesalers and retailers were informed of the changes. 

The order included both wholesale and retail prices for shops in Upolu and Savai'i for food items such as sugar, salt, rice, flour, milk products, tinned fish, corned beef, and freezer goods.

It also noted that the markup and V.A.G.S.T. were also factored into the final wholesale and retail price for both Upolu and Savai'i. 

For dry goods, the wholesale markup for Upolu is 12.5 per cent while the retail markup is 20 per cent. For freezer goods, there is a 15 per cent markup for wholesale and 22.5 per cent for retailers in Upolu for freezer goods.

As for the big island of Savai'i, the wholesale markup for dry goods is 18.5 per cent and 22.5 per cent for retail while the markup for freezer goods is 21 per cent for wholesale and 25 per cent for retail. 

The price control order shows that a box of chicken legs (15 kg) has now increased to SAT$99.30 for wholesale in Upolu and $104.50 for wholesale in Savai'i. 

The retail price for chicken legs is now SAT$8 per kg for shops in Upolu and SAT$8.60 per kg for stores in Savai'i. 

This newspaper reached out to a couple of wholesale companies in the country including Frankies, Amau Ah Liki and they all confirmed that a box of chicken (15kg) was between $73 and $77. 

The prices of other goods such as sugar, flour and rice remain the same according to the wholesalers in the country compared to the prices on the order. 

The prices of milk products have also increased with one Devondale milk now being sold for $5.40 in Upolu and $5.80 in Savai'i. For Anchor regular, it is being sold for $4.80 in Upolu and $5.10 in Savai'i.