BEVERLY HILLS, March 16, (THEWILL) – The consumer price index (CPI) for measuring inflation increased by 17.33 percent (year-on-year) in February 2021, depicting a 0.86 percent points higher than the rate recorded in January 2021 (16.47) percent.
Food inflation stood at 21.79 percent, the highest point since 2009.
This is according to the CPI/Inflation report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Tuesday.
Increases were also recorded in all COICOP divisions that yielded the Headline index.
On a month-on-month basis, the Headline index increased by 1.54 percent in February 2021, this is 0.05 percent rate higher than the rate recorded in January 2021 (1.49 percent.
The percentage change in the average composite CPI for the twelve months period ending February 2021 over the average of the CPI for the previous twelve months period was 14.05 percent, showing 0.43 percent point from 13.62 percent recorded in January 2021.
The urban inflation rate increased by 17.92 percent (year-on-year) in February 2021 from 17.03 percent recorded in January 2021, while the rural inflation rate increased by 16.77 percent in February 2021 from 15.92 percent in January 2021.
On a month-on-month basis, the urban index rose by 1.58 percent in February 2021, up by 0.06 the rate recorded in January 2021, while the rural index also rose by 1.50 percent in February 2021, up by 0.04 the rate that was recorded in January 2021 (1.46) percent.
The corresponding twelve-month year-on-year average percentage change for the urban index is 14.66 percent in February 2021. This is higher than 14.23 percent reported in January 2021, while the corresponding rural inflation rate in February 2021 is 13.48 percent compared to 13.04 percent recorded in January 2021.
The composite food index rose by 21.79 percent in February 2021 compared to 20.57 percent in January 2021.
This rise in the food index was caused by increases in prices of Bread and cereals, Potatoes, yam and other tubers, Meat, Food products n.e.c, Fruits, Vegetable, Fish and Oils and fats.
On a month-on-month basis, the food sub-index increased by 1.89 percent in February 2021, up by 0.06 percent points from 1.83 percent recorded in January 2021.
The average annual rate of change of the Food sub-index for the twelve-month period ending February 2021 over the previous twelve-month average was 17.25 percent, 0.59 percent points from the average annual rate of change recorded in January 2021 (16.66) percent.
The “All items less farm produce” or Core inflation, which excludes the prices of volatile agricultural produce stood at 12.38 percent in February 2021, up by 0.53 percent when compared with 11.85 percent recorded in January 2021.
On a month-on-month basis, the core sub-index increased by 1.21 percent in February 2021. This was down by 0.05 percent when compared with 1.26 percent recorded in January 2021.
The highest increases were recorded in prices of Passenger transport by air, Medical services, Miscellaneous services relating to the dwelling, Hospital services, Passenger transport by road, Pharmaceutical products, Paramedical services, Repair of furniture, Vehicle spare parts, Maintenance and repair of personal transport equipment, Motor cars, Dental services and Hairdressing salons and personal grooming establishment,
The average 12-month annual rate of change of the index was 10.77 percent for the twelve-month period ending February 2021; this is 0.25 percent points higher than 10.52 percent recorded in January 2021.
In areas of price movements under State Profiles, the NBS report said, in February 2021, all items inflation on year on year basis was highest in Kogi (24.73%), Bauchi (22.92%) and Ebonyi (20.45%), while Enugu (14.73%), Kwara (14.25%) and Cross River (12.97%) recorded the slowest rise in headline Year on Year inflation.
On a month-on-month basis, however, February 2021 all items inflation was highest in Kogi (3.25%), Ondo (2.46%) and Kebbi (2.43%), while Kwara (0.84%), Kano (0.70%) and Oyo (0.38%) recorded the slowest rise in headline month on month.
Also, in February 2021, food inflation on a year on year basis was highest in Kogi (30.47%), Ebonyi (25.73%) and Sokoto (25.68%), while Gombe (19.32%), Bauchi (18.74%) and Akwa Ibom (18.70%) recorded the slowest rise in year on year inflation.
On a month-on-month basis, however, February 2021 food inflation was highest in Kogi (3.34%), Ondo (3.33%) and Ebonyi (3.26%), while Benue and Niger (0.90%), Kano (0.70%) and Oyo (0.09%) recorded the slowest rise in month on month food inflation.
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