Nigeria’s inflation rate rose further to 12.56 per cent in June, as prices of basic food items surged.

Inflation in Nigeria has been on the increase since August 2019 when the country shut its land borders with its neighbours to check smuggling.

The latest report on the consumer price index (CPI) by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Friday showed that the consumer price index, (CPI) which measures inflation increased by 12.56 percent (year-on-year) in June 2020. This is 0.16 percent points higher than the rate recorded in May 2020 (12.40) percent.

Increases were recorded in all COICOP divisions that yielded the Headline index.
On month-on-month basis, the Headline index increased by 1.21 percent in June 2020. This is 0.04 percent rate higher than the rate recorded in May 2020 (1.17 percent).
The percentage change in the average composite CPI for the twelve months period ending June 2020, over the average of the CPI for the previous twelve months period was 11.90 percent, representing a 0.11 percent point increase from 11.79 percent recorded in May 2020.
The composite food index stood at 15.18%, 0.14% points higher compared to 15.04% recorded in May 2020. Also, On month-on-month basis, the food sub-index increased by 1.48% in June 2020, up by 0.06% points from 1.42% recorded in May 2020.
This rise in the food index was caused by increases in prices of Bread and Cereals, Potatoes, Yam and other tubers, Fruits, Oils and Fats, Meat, Fish and Vegetables.
The highest increases were recorded in prices of Medical services, Hospital services, Passenger transport by road, Pharmaceutical products, Motor cars, Paramedical services, Maintenance and repair of personal transport equipment, Bicycles, Motor cycles, Vehicle spare parts and Other services in respect of personal transport equipment.