Macroeconomic Report & Economic Updates
March 3, 2016
Nigeria Economic Update (Issue 10)
Nigerias inflation rate remained above
CBNs bandwidth of 6-9 per cent. Specifically, the inflation rate increased
slightly from 9.55 percent in December 2015 to 9.62 percent in January 20165.
The Core sub-index remains the main driver of inflation in Nigeria. The higher
prices of items in the Core sub-index such as clothing and foot wears are
reflective of higher domestic production costs as a result of the decline in the
value of the naira relative to the dollar. However, in the period, the price
increase was moderated by the stable price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). Going
forward, without any sustainable policy measure to prevent the further
depreciation of the naira, inflation may exceed the current single digit
inflation rate in the near term.
Related
Nigeria Economic Update (Issue 15)
Recent data on Nigerias labour market points to a
rise in the rate of unemployment and underemployment in 2015Q4. Specifically,
compared to 2015Q3, the rate of unemployment and underemployment rose to 10.4
per cent and 18.7 per cent from 9.9 percent and 17.4 percent respectively.
These statistics however masks the true situation of the youth employment in
Nigeria. Disaggregated data by age category shows that unemployment and
underemployment within the youth age category (15-24) was remarkably higher
than the national average, at 19 and 34.5 per cent respectively.
Issues In Fiscal Policy Management Under The Economic Reforms
This paper was produced as part of a larger project which was jointly financed by the UKDepartment for International Development in Nigeria (through its Policy and Knowledge facility)and the Research Committee of the World Bank.