Inflation Hits 17-Year High at 20.52%, Higher in Ebonyi, Rivers, Bayelsa

*Analysts harp on need to formulate, implement policies to boost food supply

*CBN: Nigerians’ attitude to foreign goods impacting economy negatively

James Emejo in Abuja, Nume Ekeghe in Lagos and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) which measures the rate of change in prices of goods and commodities rose to 20.52 per cent year-on-year in August, compared to 17.01 per cent in the corresponding period in 2021, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) disclosed yesterday.
The CPI had risen to 19.64 per cent in July 2022.

The latest inflation figure was the highest inflation rate the country has recorded in 17 years.
The inflation figures came just as the Director, Corporate Communication Department, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Osita Nwanisobi, yesterday expressed concern that the attitude of Nigerians towards foreign goods and services was one of the major challenges affecting the nation’s economy.

The statistical agency said the 3.52 per cent rise indicated that the headline inflation rate increased in August 2022 when compared to the same month in the preceding year.

According to the CPI report for August 2022, which was posted on the NBS website, food inflation stood at 23.12 per cent on a year-on-year basis in the period under review, which was 2.82 per cent higher than the 20.30 per cent recorded in August 2021.

However, core inflation, which excludes the prices of volatile ag­ricultural produce stood at 17.20 per cent year on year in August, up by 3.79 per cent when compared to 13.41 per cent recorded in August 2021.
The NBS pointed out that the rise in food inflation was caused by increases in prices of bread and cereals, food product, pota­toes, yam, and other tubers, fish, meat, oil, and fat.

Month-on-month, food inflation stood at 1.98 per cent in August, representing 0.07 per cent decline compared to the 2.04 per cent recorded in July.
On the other hand, the core index recorded the highest increases in prices of gas, liquid fuel, solid fuel, passenger transport by road, passenger transport by air, fuel and lubricants for personal transport equipment, cleaning, repair, and hire of clothing.
On a month-on-month basis, core inflation stood at 1.59 per cent in August, down by 0.17 per cent when compared to 1.75 per cent recorded in the preceding month.

Also, year-on-year, the urban inflation rate stood at 20.95 per cent, which was 3.36 per cent higher compared to 17.59 per cent recorded in August 2021.
On a month-on-month basis, urban inflation stood at 1.79 per cent in August, representing a 0.03 per cent decline compared to 1.82 per cent in July.
On the other hand, the rural index year on year stood at 20.12 per cent, representing 3.69 per cent increase over the 16.43 per cent recorded in the preceding year.

Also, month-on-month the rural inflation was 1.75 per cent, down by 0.06 per cent compared to 1.81 per cent in July.
However, at state level, the inflation rate on a year-on-year basis was highest in Ebonyi 25.33 per cent, Rivers 23.70 per cent, Bayelsa 23.01 per cent.
On the other hand, Jigawa 17.30 per cent, Borno 17.56 per cent and Zamfara 18.04 per cent recorded the slowest rise in headline inflation.
Month-on-month, however, the highest increases were recorded in Anambra 2.78 per cent, Ondo 2.53 per cent, Nasarawa 2.40 per cent, while Yobe 0.68 per cent, Borno 0.84 per cent and Zamfara 0.98 per cent recorded the slowest rise in inflation.

Also, year-on-year, food inflation was highest in Kwara 30.80 per cent, Ebonyi 28.06 per cent and Rivers 27.64 per cent, while Jigawa 17.77 per cent, Zamfara 18.79 per cent and Oyo 19.80 per cent recorded the slowest rise.
Month-on-month, however, food inflation was highest in Anambra 3.05 per cent, Ondo 2.92 per cent and Bauchi 2.78 per cent, while Yobe 0.46 per cent, Oyo 0.89 per cent and Delta 0.94 per cent recorded the slowest rise.

However, reacting to the inflation outcome, Chairman, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Abuja Branch, Prof. Uche Uwaleke, said the increase in headline inflation above the psychological threshold of 20 per cent did not come as a surprise in view of the rising inflation trend in many economies partly caused by the Russian Ukrainian conflict.

It’s interesting to note that the NBS, in its latest CPI report, he said the NBS also provided a clue as to the major factors driving the inflationary pressure in Nigeria namely supply disruptions and the rising cost of production.
Uwaleke said “In the light of this revelation, what becomes clear is that the recent monetary policy tightening stance of the CBN alone may not address the challenge.

“The government needs to formulate and implement complementary fiscal policies aimed at boosting food supply as well as reducing firm’s cost of production.”
Also commenting on the development, the Chief Executive Officer, Eczellon Capital, Diekola Onaolapo cited domestic constraints.

 He said: “The figures should surprise anyone; it is tragic that things are going this way. However, our inflation is often imported, and given the trajectory of the foreign exchange rate over the past few months has been. It is not a good development but not surprising.”
He added: “Considering inflation measures and changes in pricing from period to period, you’ll expect that after a while, it begins to taper off but the year-on-year comparison is going to continue but month-on-month would begin to taper off at some point.”

On his part, the Head, Financial Institutions Ratings at Agusto & Co, Mr. Ayokunle Olubunmi said: “I don’t think the figures are actually surprising given what we’re seeing globally and also with the country, I’m sure nobody is surprised by what we are seeing. Also, the exchange rates played a part because we largely import.”
“For the rest of the year, we think there would actually be an increase. The momentum will actually continue however, there will be a slowdown and the rate of increase is going to reduce. For us, we are projecting that the average inflation for the year would not exceed 19 per cent. The rate increase is going to reduce. It is going to increase at a decelerating rate.”

CBN: Nigerians’ Attitude to Foreign Goods, Impacting Economy Negatively

Meanwhile, Nwanisobi yesterday said the attitude of Nigerians towards foreign goods and services was one of the major challenges affecting the nation’s economy.
The CBN Director, who noted that in the past 15 years, the country had survived several challenges, said Nigerians need to contribute to the development and stability of the nation’s economy by cutting down on their appetite of foreign goods.

He listed some of the activities in the past that hindered the growth of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to include economic recession, COVID-19 pandemic, oil theft, insecurity, among others.

He berated Nigerians’ appetite for foreign goods which he said leads to pressure in the forex market and naira depreciation.
The CBN director spoke yesterday, during an enlightenment fair organised by the CBN for business operators, banks, farmers, cooperative societies, NYSC members and workers of various establishments, held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Speaking at the programme with the theme: “Promoting Financial Stability and Economic Development,”
Nwanisobi, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Corporate Communication Department, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Samuel Okogbue, said the Enlightenment Fair would educate the participants on their various business activities that affects the economy.
“CBN is about the economy and the economy is about the people. We are here to interact with you about economy as to be conscious of what you are doing that impacts on the economy.

“The essence of our coming here is not only to tell you what CBN is doing. We also want to appreciate you, to think with you about our economy so that we will be conscious of what we are doing and how your businesses and other activities impact on our economy.
“In the last 15 years we have passed through many problems such as economic recession, COVID-19 which have impacted on the economy. We are battling with insecurity, oil theft and the urge for foreign goods which affects the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP.

“We consume foreign goods, everything we consume are foreign based and all this affects the foreign exchange rates. Our attitude to foreign goods is affecting our economy. This enlightenment fair will educate you on consumer protection, currency operations, payment management system, development finance and eNaira,” he said.

In his remarks, the CBN Port Harcourt branch Controller, Maxwell Okafor, said the fair was aimed at disclosing the activities of CBN to the participants and what is required of them to secure their businesses and operate a free market economy.
Also, the CBN Assistant Director, Consumer Protection Department, Damola Atanda; Chika Ugwueze, CBN Assistant Director, Payment System, and Stanley Oruyeigha, Head Development Finance Department, enlightened participants on issues concerning consumer protection, payment system and development finance.

One of the participants and programme manager, Rivers State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), Mr. Vitalis Chindah, commended the CBN for their interventions in area of agriculture product in the state and across the nation.
He urged the CBN to do more in encouraging the so many yearnings farmers who need finance to upgrade their business.