5 Jan 2011

Price controls discussed in American Samoa

2:33 pm on 5 January 2011

Reports from Pago Pago say price control was on the agenda of a meeting yesterday between the Governor Togiola Tulafono and members of the American Samoa Chamber of Commerce, chairman David Whitby and Vice Chairman Hobbs Lowson.

Mr Whitby says they had a productive meeting and the chamber has agreed to poll its wholesale and retail members to obtain historical data on prices and availability for some of the basic items which are being considered for price control.

These include rice, sugar, flour, potatoes, milk, meats and canned goods.

The chamber of Commerce had said earlier that while price controls appear reasonable on the surface, they do more harm than good.

According to the chamber a price controlled item becomes unprofitable to re-order, or even to sell from existing inventory.