By Charles Ike-Okoh
TUE, 15 DEC, 2020-theGBJournal- Nigeria’s inflation rose by 14.89 percent (year-on-year) in November 2020, 0.66 percentage points higher than the rate recorded in October 2020 (14.23 percent), according to inflation data published today by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The increase is line with analysts expectation of higher month-on-month reading, given limited food harvest, lingering effect of border closure, currency depreciation and the resurgent coronavirus pandemic. The pressure on consumer prices is expected to be sustained until the end of the year.
On month-on-month basis, the Headline index increased by 1.60 percent in November 2020. This is 0.06 percentage points higher than the rate recorded in October 2020 (1.54 percent).
The climb is on the back of composite food index which rose sharply by 18.30 percent in November 2020 compared to 17.38 percent in October 2020.
According to the NBS, the rise in the food index was caused by increases in prices of Bread and cereals, Potatoes, Yam and other tubers, Meat, Fish, Fruits, Vegetables and Oils and fats.
On month-on-month basis, the food sub-index increased by 2.04 percent in November 2020, up by 0.08 percent points from 1.96 percent recorded in October 2020 while the average annual rate of change of the Food sub-index for the twelve-month period ending November 2020 over the previous twelve-month average was 15.75 percent, 0.33 percent points from the average annual rate of change recorded in October 2020 (15.42 percent).
On the other hand, urban inflation rate rose by 15.47 percent (year-on-year) in November 2020 from 14.81 percent recorded in October 2020, while the rural inflation rate increased by 14.33 percent in November 2020 from 13.68 percent in October 2020.
On a month-on-month basis, the urban index rose by 1.65 percent in November 2020, up by 0.05, from 1.60 percent recorded in October 2020, while the rural index also rose by 1.56 percent in November 2020, up by 0.08 from 1.48 percent recorded in October 2020.
The corresponding twelve-month year-on-year average percentage change for the urban index was 13.65 percent in November 2020. This is higher than 13.29 percent reported in October 2020, while the corresponding rural inflation rate in November 2020 is 12.35 percent compared to 12.09 percent recorded in October 2020.
However Core inflation for the month moderated to 11.05 percent in November 2020, down by 0.09 percent when compared with 11.14 percent recorded in October 2020.
On month-on-month basis, the core sub-index increased by 0.71 percent in November 2020 representing a sharp 0.54 percentage point decrease when compared with 1.25 percent recorded in October 2020.
The highest increases were recorded in prices of Passenger transport by air, Medical services, Hospital services, Repair of furniture, Passenger transport by road, Maintenance and repair of personal transport equipment, Vehicle spare parts, Hairdressing salons and personal grooming establishments, Pharmaceutical products, Paramedical services and Motor cars.
Inflation on year on year basis was highest in Bauchi (19.67%), Kogi (19.81%) and Zamfara (17.30%) in the month under review, while Abia (13.26%), Delta (13.20%) and Kwara (12.24%) recorded the slowest rise in headline Year on Year inflation.
On month on month basis however, November 2020 all items inflation was highest in Kogi (3.08%), Bauchi (2.33%) and Oyo (2.25%), while River (0.88%), Akwa Ibom (0.77%) and Nasarawa (0.44%) recorded the slowest rise in headline month on month inflation.
In November 2020, food inflation on a year on year basis was highest in Kogi (24.00%), Sokoto and Zamfara (20.60%) and Ebonyi (20.20%), while Abia (16.20%), Bauchi (15.60%) and Gombe and Nasarawa (15.00%) recorded the slowest rise.
On month on month basis however, November 2020 food inflation was highest in Kogi (3.37%), Osun (3.08%) and Cross River (2.93%), while Akwa Ibom (0.60%), Edo (0.43%) with Nasarawa recording price deflation or negative inflation (general decrease in the general price level of food or a negative food inflation rate).
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