KEY POINTS

• Headline inflation fell to 15.43% in July from 15.91%.
• Food inflation rose sharply to 20.31% year-on-year.
• Adamawa recorded the highest food inflation at 51.36%

Nigeria’s headline inflation rate declined to 15.43% in July 2026, down from 15.91% recorded in June, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The latest figures indicate a slowdown in the overall rate at which prices are rising, although food costs continued to put pressure on households.

The NBS said the July inflation figure represents a 0.48 percentage-point decline from June’s 15.91%.

On a month-on-month basis, inflation also slowed to 1.57% in July from 1.66% in June, showing that the average price level increased at a slower pace during the month.

The decline suggests some moderation in overall price pressures, although consumers continue to face high costs across essential goods and services.

Despite the decline in headline inflation, food inflation remained a major concern, rising to 20.31% year-on-year in July.

More significantly, food inflation jumped to 5.56% month-on-month, compared with 3.75% in June — an increase of 1.82 percentage points.

The NBS attributed the rise to higher prices of several food items, including rice, water yam, plantain, crayfish, fresh pepper, onions, tomatoes, garri, beef, eggs and ginger.

The figures highlight the continued pressure on household budgets, particularly for low- and middle-income Nigerians who spend a large share of their income on food.

Adamawa Records Highest Food Inflation

State-level data showed significant differences in food price pressures across the country.

Adamawa recorded the highest year-on-year food inflation at 51.36%, followed by Katsina at 30.84% and Zamfara at 30.65%.

Borno recorded the lowest rate at -0.31%, while Nasarawa and Kebbi recorded 6.88% and 12.50%, respectively.

On a month-on-month basis, Adamawa also recorded the highest food inflation at 17.02%, followed by Lagos at 13.48% and Borno at 13.26%. Meanwhile, food prices declined month-on-month in Jigawa, Kebbi and Bauchi.

The latest data presents a mixed picture for Nigeria’s economy. While headline inflation has continued to moderate, food prices are moving in the opposite direction.

The development means that Nigerians may continue to feel significant pressure from the cost of basic food items despite the broader slowdown in inflation.