Food prices rise as Nigeria's inflation falls to 15.43% in July 2026
Food prices keep rising as Nigeria's headline inflation fell to 15.43% in July 2026, marking the second straight monthly decline according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Month-on-month inflation eased to 1.57%, down from 1.66% in June. Yet food inflation moved in the opposite direction, climbing for the sixth consecutive month to 20.31% from 17.52% in June, driven by higher costs for crayfish, fresh pepper, onions, carrots, rice, water yam, tomatoes, garri, plantain, beef, eggs, guinea corn, ginger and plantain flour.
Adamawa State recorded the highest all-items inflation at 33.03% and the highest food inflation at 51.36%, while Nasarawa State posted the lowest figures at 7.86% and 6.88% respectively. Economists warn that the drop in headline inflation does not reflect lived reality. Former CIBN president Dr Okechukwu Unegbu said actual inflation feels closer to 35-40%, noting that market prices for basics like oranges remain far above earlier levels. Prof Godwin Oyedokun explained the disinflation stems from exchange-rate stability and tight monetary policy, not from cheaper fuel, and stressed that food and essential household costs stay high, leaving many Nigerians without relief.
CPPE CEO Dr Muda Yusuf added that while the lower inflation signals macro-economic stability, the cost-of-living burden persists and requires fiscal action from federal and state governments on food, transport, energy and utilities. Without such interventions, ordinary citizens will continue to feel the squeeze.
Will you adjust your household budget, seek cheaper food alternatives, or push for government programmes that target food inflation and utility costs to protect your purchasing power?