Nigeria inflation rises March 2026 to 15.38% as food, transport, and housing costs push prices higher, according to the National Bureau of Statistics

Nigeria’s inflation rate rose to 15.38 per cent in March 2026, reversing a recent easing trend as rising food, transport, and accommodation costs pushed prices higher, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

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The figure marks the first increase in headline inflation since March 2025, signalling renewed pressure on household spending across the country.

The latest Consumer Price Index report released on Wednesday showed that inflation rose from 15.06 per cent in February 2026 to 15.38 per cent in March 2026.

The NBS noted that the Consumer Price Index climbed to 135.4 points in March, reflecting a steady increase in the cost of goods and services.

On a monthly basis, inflation also accelerated sharply, indicating faster price increases within a short period.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages remained the largest contributors to inflation, followed by restaurants, accommodation services, and transport costs.

Food inflation continued to place significant pressure on households, driven by rising prices of staple items such as yams, cassava, tomatoes, and potatoes.

Urban inflation stood at 14.64 per cent, while rural inflation was higher at 17.22 per cent, highlighting stronger price pressures outside major cities.

The report also showed a sharp monthly spike in rural inflation, which rose to 6.73 per cent in March from 0.71 per cent in February.

Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy items, increased to 16.21 per cent year-on-year, indicating broader underlying price pressures.

Despite being lower than March 2025 levels, the data suggests inflationary momentum is building again across key sectors of the economy.

At the state level, inflation varied widely, with Bayelsa recording the highest rate, while Osun posted the slowest increase.

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The World Bank has warned that rising global oil prices could further push inflation higher in Nigeria, particularly through fuel, transport, and food supply chains.