The latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reveals that Nigeria’s inflation rate has surged to 33.2% in March 2024, marking a 1.5% increase from the previous month.
According to the data, the rise in inflation was primarily driven by higher costs of food, beverages, energy, and housing. Compared to February 2024, the inflation rate in March increased at a slower pace, with food inflation reaching 40.01% year-on-year.
NBS attributed the spike in food prices to the rising costs of items like garri, millet, yam tubers, and others. On a month-on-month basis, food inflation slightly decreased to 3.62% in March 2024.
Urban inflation also increased to 35.18% year-on-year in March 2024, while rural inflation stood at 31.45%. Core inflation, which excludes volatile agricultural products and energy, was 25.90% year-on-year in March 2024.
Overall, the rising cost of living in Nigeria is evident in the significant increase in inflation rates across different categories.
It is crucial for policymakers to address these challenges to alleviate the financial burden on the population.
Comment here