Inflation Drops to 16.05% in October Amid Rising MoM Pressure
Nigeria’s headline inflation maintained its disinflationary trend in October 2025, extending a seven-month streak of annual moderation. The headline CPI moderated to 16.05% YoY from 18.02% in September, its lowest level since March 2022. This decline was driven by strong base effects from late-2024 inflation figures and seasonal supply relief from the peak harvest.
However, despite the favourable annual trend, monthly indicators continued to reveal underlying inflationary firmness. MoM headline inflation accelerated to 0.93% from 0.72%, signalling renewed domestic cost pressures concentrated within the core basket. This occurred even as food inflation registered a negative MoM print, underscoring price pressure in the non-food component.
Food Inflation: Harvest-Driven Deflation Anchors the Headline Print
Food inflation delivered the strongest support to the headline print, with the YoY rate easing to 13.12% in
October from 16.87% in September, aided by favourable base effects and improved food supply conditions. MoM food inflation also turned negative at –0.37%, reflecting harvest-driven deflation across key staples and a temporary easing in near-term supply pressures.
However, this relief is expected to be short-lived, as seasonal supply normalization and higher post-harvest logistics costs are likely to drive food inflation back into positive monthly territory in the coming period. Moreover, with the festive season approaching, consumer front-loading and stronger demand are expected to exert additional upward pressure on food prices in the near term.
Y-o-Y Inflation Trend
Core Inflation: Persistent and Structurally Elevated
Core inflation remained structurally sticky despite some annual easing. The YoY core index moderated to 18.69% in October, marking its fourth consecutive monthly decline and reflecting improved FX liquidity and relative currency stability. Nonetheless, the core index remains higher than the headline index, underscoring persistent pressures across the non-food component.
On a sequential basis, core inflation was unchanged at 1.416% MoM, matching September’s 1.417%. Elevated transport-related costs, driven by higher diesel prices and indirect pass-through from PMS adjustments, remain key contributors. Additionally, sustained price rigidity across accommodation, restaurant services, rents, and utility-linked components continues to reinforce the structural persistence of core inflation.
M-O-M Inflation Trend
Outlook
Looking ahead to November, the disinflationary trend is expected to continue, supported largely by strong base effects from late-2024. However, pressures are likely to intensify as the temporary food deflation seen in October unwinds with the tapering of harvest supply and rising post-harvest logistics costs. Core inflation may remain elevated around the 1.4% MoM, reflecting persistent cost structures.
Against this backdrop, monetary policy faces the task of balancing improving annual inflation with monthly price pressure. The CBN is expected to deliver a moderate rate cut of (50–100)bps, potentially bringing the MPR to roughly 26% in its November 24th and 25th meeting. A lower policy rate would likely compress fixed-income yields and encourage a reallocation of liquidity toward equities and real estate.