Nigeria’s headline inflation rate eased to 15.15% in December 2025, according to NBS, driven by slower food prices and a revised CPI methodology
Nigeria Records Sharp Inflation Slowdown in December, NBS Data Shows
Nigeria’s headline inflation rate eased to 15.15 per cent in December 2025, marking a significant slowdown in price pressures and closing the year with early signs of stabilisation across key segments of the economy.
The latest figures, released on Thursday by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), reflect both easing price movements and the impact of a review of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) methodology, designed to better mirror current consumption patterns and economic realities.
According to the NBS, the CPI increased marginally to 131.2 in December, up from 130.5 in November, indicating that prices continued to rise but at a much slower pace.
On a month-on-month basis, inflation fell sharply to 0.54 per cent, compared with 1.22 per cent in November, signalling a broad moderation in price increases across the economy.
Year-on-year, headline inflation declined from 17.33 per cent in November and stood far below the 34.80 per cent recorded in December 2024, using the revised CPI base year of November 2009.
The statistics office clarified that the CPI adjustments were technical in nature, stressing that the changes were introduced to enhance accuracy rather than reflect any deterioration in economic conditions.
Urban, Rural Inflation Ease
Urban inflation dropped significantly to 14.85 per cent year-on-year, compared to 37.29 per cent in December 2024, although the month-on-month rate edged up slightly to 0.99 per cent. The twelve-month average urban inflation stood at 23.46 per cent.
In rural areas, inflation declined to 14.56 per cent year-on-year from 32.47 per cent a year earlier, with a month-on-month decrease of 0.55 per cent. The twelve-month average rural inflation rate was 21.93 per cent.
Food Inflation Records Major Relief
Food inflation moderated sharply, falling to 10.84 per cent year-on-year from 39.84 per cent in December 2024. On a month-on-month basis, food prices declined by 0.36 per cent, driven by lower prices of staple items such as tomatoes, garri, eggs, potatoes, vegetables, plantain, beans and onions.
The average annual food inflation rate for the twelve months ending December 2025 stood at 22.00 per cent.
Core Inflation Trends Lower
Core inflation — which excludes volatile farm produce and energy prices — eased to 18.63 per cent year-on-year, down from 29.28 per cent in December 2024. Month-on-month, it slowed to 0.58 per cent from 1.28 per cent in November, while the twelve-month average stood at 23.49 per cent.
State-Level Inflation Snapshot
At the state level, Abia, Ogun and Katsina recorded the highest all-items inflation rates on a year-on-year basis, while Sokoto, Plateau and Kaduna posted the lowest.
On a month-on-month basis, the highest increases were seen in Cross River, Abia and Delta, while Ondo, Gombe and Jigawa recorded declines.
For food inflation, Yobe, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) topped the year-on-year chart, while Akwa Ibom, Sokoto and Plateau recorded the lowest rates. Month-on-month food inflation rose most in Imo, Nasarawa and Yobe, but declined in Plateau, Rivers and Zamfara.
The NBS reiterated that the revised CPI methodology was introduced to better capture shifts in consumer behaviour and provide a more accurate reflection of Nigeria’s evolving economic landscape. Read More
