The inflation rate in Nigeria closed 2020 on a high hitting 15.75 percent in December, its highest level in three years. This is according to statistics released on Friday by the National Bureau of Statistics.

This an increase by 0.86 percent from the 14.89 percent recorded in November last year.

“The consumer price index, (CPI) which measures inflation increased by 15.75 percent (year-on-year) in December 2020. This is 0.86 percent points higher than the rate recorded in November 2020 (14.89) percent,” the NBS revealed in its statistics.

The spike beats the expectations of analysts at the financial derivatives company who had projected an increase to 15.4 percent, largely driven by forex rationing, output and productivity constraints, higher logistics and distribution costs.

Data released by the NBS also shows that an increase in food prices pushed the food index higher by 19.56 percent, while core inflation inched up by 0.32 percent to 11.37 percent in December.

“The composite food index rose by 19.56 percent in December 2020 compared to 18.30 percent in November 2020.

“The average annual rate of change of the Food sub-index for the twelve-month period ending December 2020 over the previous twelve-month average was 16.17 percent, 0.42 percent points from the average annual rate of change recorded in November 2020 (15.75) percent,” the NBS statement read in part.

This rise in the food index according to the NBS was caused by increases in prices of Bread and cereals, Potatoes, Yam and other tubers, Meat, Fruits, Vegetable, Fish and Oils, and fats.

Similarly, urban inflation also rose by 16.33 percent year on year, while the rural inflation rate stood at 15.20 percent in December.

In December 2020, all items inflation on year to year basis was highest in Bauchi (19.85%), Edo (18.15%), and Kogi (18.40%), while Lagos (14.05%), Kwara (13.91%), and Abia (13.30%) recorded the slowest rise in headline year on year inflation. (Channels TV)

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