Akakan Umoh
Nigeria’s headline inflation rate rose to 15.38 percent in March 2026, reflecting a slight increase from the 15.06 percent recorded in February.
This is according to the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS.
This means on a month-on-month basis, Nigeria’s headline inflation stood at 4.18 percent.
Similarly, the country’s food inflation increased to 14.31 percent in March from 12.12 percent last month.
“In March 2026, the Headline inflation rate rose to 15.38 percent, up from 15.06 percent in February 2026.
Also read: Nigeria’s inflation jumped to 28.20% in November – NBS
“On a month-on-month basis, the Headline inflation rate in March 2026 was 4.18 percent.
“The Food inflation rate in March 2026 was 14.31 percent. On a month-on-month basis, the Food inflation rate in March 2026 was 4.17 percent,” NBS stated.
On a year-on-year basis, in March 2026, the Urban inflation rate was 14.64%. On a month-on-month basis, the Urban inflation rate was 3.16% in March 2026, up by 0.61% compared to February 2026 (2.55%).
The corresponding twelve-month average for the Urban inflation rate was 20.04% in March 2026. This was 0.06% points lower compared to the 20.10% reported in March 2025.
Rural inflation rate in March 2026 was 17.22% on a year-on-year basis.
On a month-on-month ba sis, the Rural inflation rate in March 2026 was 6.73%, up by 6.02% compared to February 2026 (0,71%).
The corresponding twelve-month average for the Rural inflation rate in March 2026 was 19.74%. This was 2.93% points higher compared to the 16.81% recorded in March 2025.
The food inflation rate in the month under review was 14.31% on a year-on-year basis and stood at 25.22% in the same month of the preceding year (March 2025).
However, on a month-on-month basis, food inflation rate in March 2026 was 4.17%, down 0.52 percentage points from February 2026 (4.69%).
The drop was attributed to the rate of change in the average prices of the following products: Yam, Ginger (Fresh), Cassava Tuber, Groundnuts (Shelled), Irish Potatoes, Avenger (Ogbono/Apon) – Dried Ungrinded, Tomatoes (fresh), Cassava Flour sold loose, etc.
