NBS: Price of rice highest in northeast, lowest in northwest

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says the prices of key food items, including beans, eggs, bread, rice, and tomatoes, saw significant increases in September 2024.

In its “Selected Food Prices Watch” report for September 2024 released on Wednesday, NBS said the average price for 1 kilogram (kg) of brown beans rose by 281.97 percent to N2,738.59 last month, compared to N716.97 recorded in the corresponding period in 2023.

“On a month-on-month basis, 1kg of brown beans increased by 6.37% in September from N2,574.63 recorded in August 2024,” NBS said.

The bureau also noted that the price for a dozen medium-sized agric eggs increased by 137.43 percent year-on-year from N1,047.47 in September 2023 to N2,487.04 last month.

NBS said on a month-on-month basis, the eggs increased by 8.46 percent, rising from N2,289.19 recorded in August 2024.

According to the bureau, the average price of sliced bread rose to N1,528.19 in September, up from N708.36 in the same month last year — a year-on-year increase of 115.74 percent.

The bureau said the price increased on a month-on-month basis by 4.68 percent from the N1,459.85 recorded in August.

Additionally, the average price of 1kg of local rice increased to N1,914.77 in the review period, indicating a 152.92 percent year-on-year growth compared to N757.06 in September 2023.

“On a month-on-month basis, it increased by 4.57 per cent from N1,831.05 recorded in August 2024,” NBS said.

The report also showed that the average price of 1kg of boneless beef rose by 99.99 percent year-on-year, from N2,816.91 in September last year to N5,633.60 in September 2024.

However, on a month-on-month basis, the price of 1kg of boneless beef decreased by 1.44 percent from the N5,553.80 recorded in August.

Also, NBS said the average price of 1kg of tomatoes increased from N565.69 in September 2023 to N1,430.87 in September 2024 — a year-on-year increase of 152.94 percent

“However, on a month-on-month basis, the average price of 1kg of tomato declined by 5.01 per cent from N1,506.35 in August 2024 to N1,430.87 in September 2024,” the bureau said.

PRICES BY STATE

On state profile analysis, the NBS said Bauchi recorded the highest average price of 1kg of brown beans at N3,450.04, while Adamawa reported the lowest price at N1,800.

The bureau said Niger had the highest average price of medium size agric eggs (12 pieces) at N3,000.84, while Borno reported the lowest price at N2,075.58.

Furthermore, the highest price for sliced bread, according to NBS, was recorded in Rivers at N1,852, while Yobe had the lowest price at N982.79.

NBS also reported that Kogi had the highest average price for 1kg of local rice (sold loose) at N2,688.04, while Benue had the lowest price at N1,229.14.

The report said the highest price of 1kg of tomato was recorded in Abuja at N2,212.61, while the lowest price was recorded in Kano at N656.21.

‘SOUTH-SOUTH PAID MORE FOR BEANS, BREAD’

Analysis by zone showed that the south-south had the highest average price for 1kg of brown beans at N3,241.46, followed by the north-central at N2,935.96.

“The lowest price was recorded in the North-West at N2,316.42,” the bureau said.

NBS said the north-central and northeast recorded the highest prices for medium-sized agricultural eggs (12 pieces) at N2,833.42 and N2,501.79, respectively, while the northwest reported the lowest price at N2,249.65.

The bureau said the south-south had the highest average price for sliced bread at N1,812.08, followed by the southeast at N1,655.80, while the northeast reported the lowest price at N1,351.92.

NBS added that the northeast and southeast recorded the highest average prices for 1kg of local rice (sold loose) at N2,031.96 and N2,015.92, respectively, while the northwest had the lowest price at N1,714.31.