Nigeria’s Inflation Rate Has Increased To 15.38%

According to Ireporter Online, Nigeria’s headline inflation rate rose to 15.38% in March 2026, marking an increase from the 15.06% recorded in February, based on the latest data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The report indicated that inflationary pressure strengthened during the period, as the month-on-month inflation rate surged to 4.18% in March from 2.01% in February, reflecting a faster rise in general price levels across the economy. Key drivers of the increase included food and non-alcoholic beverages, transport, as well as restaurants and accommodation services, even though food inflation eased slightly on a yearly basis to 14.31%.

Further details from the NBS showed that rural inflation climbed to 17.22%, highlighting stronger cost pressures outside urban centres, while states such as Bayelsa, Sokoto, and Bauchi recorded some of the highest inflation rates nationwide. The bureau also noted that following its recent rebasing exercise, the Consumer Price Index now reflects a 2024 base year, with the CPI rising to 135.40 in March 2026. Food items such as yam, cassava, tomatoes, and ginger were among the major contributors to price changes during the period.