….As Other Food Items Cost More
Consumers in the country bought 1kg of loose locally rice at an average price of by 60.59% higher in September this year at N757.06 compared to the N471.42 it sold at in the corresponding month of last year,
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its ‘Selected Food Price Watch for (September 2023)’ report published on its website on Monday, however, stated that on a month-to-month basis, the average price for the staple food marginally rose by 2.48% increase from N738.74 in August 2023.
According to the report, consumers in Rivers State paid highest for the commodity in the month under review at N931.82 per kg while Benue State buyers paid lowest for the item at N539.35 for 1kg.
The Bureau further reported that in the month under review consumers paid average price of boneless beef per kilogramme at N2,816.91, representing a 28.08% increase in price compared to September 2022 when it exchanged at N2,199.37 per kilogramme. It, however, clarified that on a month-on-month basis, the item’s average price increased by 0.62% from N2,799.51 in August 2023.
A further analysis of the food price watch report from the Bureau indicated that year-on-year, the average price of 1kg of loose brown beans increased by 28.76% from N556.81 in September 2022 to N716.97 in September 2023.
The statistics agency noted, however, that month-to-month, the price of this item saw a 3.47% increase from N692.95 in August 2023.
Also, it reported that year-on-year, the average price of 1kg of onion bulbs increased by 29.81%, rising from N397.18 in September 2022 to N515.59 in September 2023 but that on a month-to-month basis, there was a 0.45% increase.
The Bureau further disclosed that the year-on-year average price of 1kg of yam tubers surged by 45.11%, climbing from N409.23 in September 2022 to N593.83 in September 2023. On a month-to-month basis, there was a 3.03% increase from N576.39 in August 2023.
Similarly, the report reflected that the average price of tomato in September 2023 increased to N565.65, representing an increase of 27.09% year-on-year basis, from N445.12 it exchanged at in the corresponding month of last year
According to the report, the average price of 1kg of tomato increased from N554.37 in August 2023 to N565.65 in September 2023, representing an increase of 2.04%.
On the price trend of yam in the month, the Bureau reported that the average price of yams increased by 45.11% on a year-on-year basis from N409.23 per kg in September 2022 to N593.23 in September 2023.
It further clarified that on a month-on-month basis, the average price of the commodity per kg increased by 3.03% from N576.39 in August to 593.93 in September this year.
