The Central Bank of Samoa (CBS) has warned that inflation is expected to rise over the next year due to higher international oil prices, but says the increase is likely to be temporary.
CBS Governor Maiava Atalina Ainuu-Enari said in a press statement that the CBS expects inflation to increase over the coming year, mainly because of higher oil prices internationally.
“While we expect inflation to increase over the coming year due to higher oil prices internationally, we expect these increases to be temporary,” she said. “Our decision to maintain current policy settings is a balance between keeping prices stable for the people of Samoa with continued support for economic growth.”
The comments follow a decision by the Central Bank Board of Directors to keep Samoa’s monetary policy unchanged after its meeting on Tuesday. According to CBS, inflation is forecast to rise from 1.0 per cent in May 2026 to 3.8 per cent by June 2027.
That would place inflation slightly above the Bank’s medium-term target of 3.0 per cent. The Central Bank said the expected rise is mainly due to higher global oil prices linked to the conflict between the United States and Iran.
