Food inflation climbs marginally in June on high pepper, tomato costs

Food inflation in Nigeria rose marginally by 0.83 percent in June, driven by high prices of pepper and fresh tomatoes, according to the consumer price report released Wednesday.

Despite headline inflation slowing for the third consecutive month, food inflation increased to 21.97 from 21.14 percent recorded in the preceding month, according to data from the CPI report.

But on a year-on-year basis, owing to the rebasing, food inflation dropped 18.93 percent from 40.87 percent in June 2024.

Read also: Borno’s food inflation hits record high in May

“The food inflation rate in June 2025 was 21.97 percent on a year-on-year basis. This was 18.93 percent points lower compared to the rate recorded in June 2024 (40.87 percent),” the NBS noted.

“On a month-on-month basis, the food inflation rate in June 2025 was 3.25 percent, up by 1.07 percent compared to May 2025 (2.19 percent),” it added.

According to state analysis, food inflation in the period was highest in Borno at 47.40 percent, Ebonyi at 30.62 percent, followed by Bayelsa at 28.64 percent. While Katsina, Adamawa and Sokoto States recorded the lowest rise with 6.21 percent, 10.90 percent and 15.25 percent, respectively.

Read also: Food inflation eases to 21.3% in April, pushed lower by maize, wheat prices

Similarly, on a month-on-month basis, June food inflation was highest in Enugu at 11.90 percent, Kwara at 9.97 percent, and Rivers at 9.88 percent, while Borno at -7.63 percent, Sokoto at -6.43 percent, and Bayelsa at -6.34 percent, recorded a decline.

The NBS reports that Nigeria’s headline inflation eased for the third consecutive month to 22.22 percent relative to the May 2025 headline inflation rate of 22.97 percent.