Inflation in Nigeria rose to 15.69 per cent in April, as people continue to grapple with the cost-of-living crisis.
The upward inflationary trend in April represents a marginal increase from 15.38 per cent recorded in March and a 0.31 percentage point year-on-year increase.
The data is contained in the latest Consumer Price Index, CPI, report released by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, on Friday.
According to the report, there is a slowdown in price increases on a month-on-month basis, suggesting a gradual cool-off in the pace of inflationary pressure.
According to the NBS, month-on-month headline inflation stood at 2.13 per cent in April 2026, down significantly from 4.18 per cent recorded in March.
“This means that in April 2026, the rate of increase in the average price level was lower than the rate of increase in the average price level in March 2026,” the bureau explained.
The agency noted that although inflation remains high, the latest figures showed that the speed of price increments across the economy has significantly reduced.
On a 12-month average basis, the headline inflation rate for the period ending April 2026 was 19.16 per cent, slightly lower than the 19.33 per cent recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
A breakdown of the report showed mixed inflation trends between urban and rural areas.
Urban inflation stood at 15.40 per cent year-on-year in April 2026, while month-on-month urban inflation eased to 1.86 per cent from 3.16 per cent in March.
The 12-month average urban inflation rate was 19.07 per cent, compared to 20.76 per cent recorded in April 2025.
In rural areas, inflation was higher at 16.36 per cent year-on-year, reflecting continued cost pressures outside major cities.
However, rural month-on-month inflation dropped sharply to 2.80 per cent in April, down from 6.73 per cent in March.
The 12-month average rural inflation rate stood at 18.99 per cent, higher than the 17.63 per cent recorded in the same period last year.
