Macroeconomic Report & Economic Updates
January 22, 2016
Nigeria Economic Update (Issue 4)
The Naira/Dollar exchange rate remained
unchanged at ?199/$
in the official market but depreciated from ?263/$ to $267 at the Bureau De Change (BDC)
market segment this week. As the naira depreciates, the CBN forex
restriction measures continue to widen the gap between the official rate and
BDC, which has led to increased calls for naira devaluation. The International Monetary
Fund (IMF) and Business owners are among the major advocates for a relaxation
of the forex restrictions set by the CBN, in order to enhance the level of economic
activities.
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.