Abuja, Nigeria – Nigeria’s annual inflation rate increased to 15.38 percent in March 2026, bringing an end to an eleven-month period of slowing price increases. The latest data was released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its most recent Consumer Price Index report.
The rise in the headline inflation was primarily driven by an acceleration in food prices across the country. Food inflation, which is the largest component of the index, climbed to 14.31 percent, up from 12.12 percent recorded in the previous month.
According to Okay News, this uptick signals renewed pressure on consumer prices and ends a prolonged trend of disinflation. The NBS report also showed that core inflation, which excludes volatile agricultural and energy prices, stood at 16.21 percent in March, indicating broad-based price increases.
State-level data revealed significant regional differences, with some states like Bayelsa and Sokoto experiencing much higher year-on-year food inflation than others. The report underscores the complex economic dynamics influencing the cost of living in different parts of Nigeria.
