By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Analysts at FSDH Research are predicting that the inflation rate for the month of August 2018 will remain unchanged at 11.14 percent year-on-year.
This was contained in the Inflation Watch report released by the investment company last Friday.
According to FSDH Research, although there was moderation in the prices of some food items in August, the contraction in the agriculture sector may place pressure on food prices in coming months.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) is expected to release the inflation rate for the month of August on Friday, 14 September 2018.
The Food Price Index (FPI) report that the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) published for the month of August 2018 noted that food prices in the international market increased marginally in August from the July levels.
The prices of sugar, edible oil and dairy dropped in August compared with July while the prices of cereal and meat increased. The depreciation of currencies in Brazil and India against the US Dollar resulted in the decrease in sugar prices. However, tight export in wheat and maize forced prices up.
FSDH Research’s analysis indicated that the value of the Naira depreciated at both the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange (NAFEX), and the parallel market at end-August 2018.
At the NAFEX and parallel markets, the value of the Naira depreciated by 0.40 percent and 0.08 percent to close at N362.65/$ and N306.15/$ respectively at the end of August.
The marginal increase in the international prices of food coupled with the depreciation in the value of the Naira placed an upward pressure on prices of some consumer goods in August.
The prices of food items that FSDH Research monitored in August 2018 moved in varying directions. The movement in the prices of food items during the month led to a 1.10 percent increase in the Food and Non-Alcoholic Index.
This Index increased year-on-year by 12.76 percent, up from 251.66 points recorded in August 2017.
“We also observed an increase in the prices of Transport and Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels divisions between July and August 2018.
“We estimate that the increase in the Composite Consumer Price Index (CCPI) in August would produce an inflation rate of 11.14 percent, same as the figure recorded in July,” the firm said.
