Headline inflation drops amid rising food prices
Nigeria's headline inflation rate slightly eased to 15.91% in June 2026, yet citizens face a worsening hunger crisis due to sharp spikes in food prices. The report highlights significant regional disparities in inflation across the country.
Why it matters
The divergence between headline inflation and food costs illustrates the severe impact of economic policy on basic living standards in developing nations.
Nigerians are facing a complex situation of easing headline inflation amid spiking food prices, thus denying citizens the relief they should enjoy from the easing inflation and worsening the hunger crisis now ravaging some parts of the country, especially the north.
The National Bureau of Statistics in its June 2026 consumer price index (CPI) report published yesterday showed that headline inflation eased to 15.91 per cent from 15.93 per cent recorded in May 2026, a reduction of 0.02 per cent on a month-on-month basis.
The report also shows that food inflation rose sharply on a month-on-month basis from 2.98 per cent in May to 3.75 per cent in June, a 0.77 per cent increase and the fastest monthly increase in recent months.
According to the NBS, the increase was driven by fresh tomatoes, peppers, beef, crayfish, garri, yam, potatoes, bananas and cowpea. The very staple food of the people.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in