Nigeria's Urban And Rural Inflation Rates Soar in June

Africa's largest economy has been struggling to keep its head above the water. But its stability is still largely threatened by monstrous inflation rates. 

According to a report retrieved by Allnews from the Nigerian Buruau of Statistics, Nigeria's urban inflation rate increased by 18.35 percent (year-on-year) in June 2021 from 18.51 percent recorded in May 2021, while the rural inflation rate increased by 17.16 percent in June 2021 from 17.36 percent in May 2021.

The report also revealed that the consumer price index (CPI), which measures inflation (rate of change in the increase in prices) increased by 17.75 percent (year-on-year) in June 2021. This is 0.18 percentage points lower than the rate recorded in May 2021 (17.93) percent. (This implies that prices continued to rise in June 2021 but at a slightly slower rise than it did in May 2021).

On a month-on-month basis, the urban index rose by 1.09 percent in June 2021, up by 0.05 points compared to the rate recorded in May 2021 (1.04 percent), while the rural index also rose by 1.02 percent in June 2021, up by 0.04 percentage points over the rate that was recorded in May 2021 (0.98) percent.

The corresponding twelve-month year-on-year average percentage change for the urban index was 16.51 percent in June 2021. This is higher than 16.09 percent reported in May 2021, while the corresponding rural inflation rate in June 2021 wass 15.36 percent compared to 14.94 percent recorded in May 2021.

It was also reported that the composite food index rose by 21.83 percent in June 2021 compared to 22.28 percent in May 2021. (This implies that food prices continued to rise in June 2021 but at a slightly slower speed than it did in May 2021.)

This rise in the food index was caused by increases in prices of Bread and cereals, Potatoes, Yam and other Tubers, Milk, Cheese and Eggs, Fish, Soft drinks, Vegetables, Oils and fats and Meat.

The ''All items less farm produce'' or Core inflation, which excludes the prices of volatile agricultural produce stood at 13.09 percent in June 2021, down by 0.06 percent when compared with 13.15 percent recorded in May 2021.

The highest increases were recorded in prices of Garments, Passenger travel by air and by road, Motor cars and Vehicle spare parts, Shoes and other footwear, Pharmaceutical products, Medical services, Hairdressing salons and personal grooming establishments, Cleaning, repair and hire of clothing, Clothing materials, other articles of clothing and clothing accessories, Furniture and furnishing and Fuels and lubricants for personal transport equipments.