Macroeconomic Report & Economic Updates
July 28, 2016
Nigeria Economic Update (Issue 32)
The naira continued its
downward trajectory this week. Specifically, naira depreciated at the interbank
segment by 3.45 percent to N300/$; and by 3.56 percent to 378/$ at
the parallel segment. Despite the CBNs effort to support the naira
with Forwards and FOREX futures, the excess demand for dollar continues to put
pressure on the naira. Looking forward, the stabilization of exchange rate
depends on the ability of the CBN and government to attract capital inflows;
particularly by raising interest rate, tackling inflation and supporting
economy recovery.
Related
Nigeria Economic Update (Issue 18)
Inflation
rate continued its upward trajectory in the week under review. Specifically,
the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 1.39 per cent, from 11.38 per cent
in February to 12.77 per cent in March, 20161. Remarkably, this is the
highest rate since July 2012, representing a 4-year high. While both components
of the CPI rose in the period, the food sub-index was largely the main driver
of the increase in the CPI, with a growth rate of 1.39 per cent between
February and March. The persistent scarcity in petroleum products, especially
Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), has increased transportation costs and the price of
food items.