The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the coordinating agency for Nigeria’s statistical system, on Wednesday reported that prices of selected food items increased in October as the average price of 1kg onion bulb, increased on a year-on-year basis by 32.56 percent from N306.07 recorded in October 2021 to N405.72 in the month under review.
The Bureau in its latest ‘Selected Food Prices Watch Report for October’ stated that on a month-on-month basis, 1 kg of the onion bulb increased to N405.72 in October 2022 from N397.18 it sold for in the preceding month, indicating a 2.15 percent increase.
The report indicated that the average price of 1kg rice (local, sold loose) increased on a year-on-year basis by 17.45 percent from N415.03 it sold for in October last year to N487.47 in October this year, while on a month-on-month basis, the average price of the item increased by 3.40 percent in October 2022 from N471.42 in September 2022.
The NBS also clarified that in the month under review, the average price of 1kg of tomato increased on a year-on-year basis by 30.79 percent from N347.47 recorded in October last year to N454.46 in October this year while on a month-on-month basis, the same quantity of the item increased by 2.10 percent from N445.12 in the preceding month.
The report reflected that the average price of 1kg brown beans (sold loose) increased by 17.95 per cent on a year-on-year basis, from N478.76 recorded in October 2021 to N564.69 in October 2022.
In addition, the NBS reported that the average price of palm oil (1 bottle) increased by 33.22 percent from N727.21 recorded in October 2021 to N968.76 in October 2022, adding that the price also rose by 4.47 percent on a month-on-month basis from N927.34 recorded in September 2022.
The statistics agency also disclosed that the average price of vegetable oil (1 bottle) rose to N1, 106.08 in October this year, representing a 33.99 percent increase from N825.46 it sold for in the corresponding month of last year. It added that on a month-on-month basis, the price rose by 2.81 percent from N1, 075.89 in September 2022.
The report also showed that the average price of 500g sliced bread increased by 36.68 percent on a year-on-year basis from N382.77 recorded in October 2021 to N523.16 in October this year but that on a month-on-month basis, the item’s price increased by 2.23 percent from N511.74 it sold at in September 2022.
Analysis of the report on state-by-state basis showed that Rivers State consumers paid the highest average price for rice (local, sold loose) at N630.66, while Jigawa consumers paid the lowest price for the item at N381.54.
The statistics agency reported that Ebonyi State buyers paid the highest average price of beans (brown, sold loose) at N848.74, compared to consumers in Plateau who paid the lowest price of N360.03.
The ‘Selected Food Prices Watch Report for October’ further showed that Abia State buyers paid the highest price for vegetable oil (1 bottle) at N1, 484.31, while Benue State buyers paid the lowest price at N650.89.
According to the Bureau, Cross River recorded the highest average price of 1kg of onion bulb at N980.62 compared to Benue buyers who recorded the lowest price at N180.34.
Also, it disclosed that Delta State consumers paid the highest average price for 1kg of tomato at N824.55 while Taraba recorded the lowest price at N166.67.
The NBS in the ‘Selected Food Prices Watch Report for October’ further clarified that the highest average price of 500g sliced bread was recorded in Abuja at N705.00 while Plateau recorded the lowest price at N310.00.
A further analysis of the report on zone-by-zone basis reflected that the average price of 1kg onion bulb was highest in the South-South and South-East at N670.63 and N538.31, respectively, while the lowest price was recorded in the North-East at N212.83.
The statistics agency reported that the South-South recorded the highest average price of 1kg rice (local, sold loose) at N545.03, followed by the South-West with N519.53, while the lowest price was recorded in the North-West at N435.06.
This is even as the ‘Selected Food Prices Watch Report for October’ showed that the South-East recorded the highest average price of palm oil (1 bottle) at N1, 101.04, followed by the South-West at N1, 096.17, while the North-Central recorded the lowest price at N742.62.
