NBS: Price of tomatoes increased by 55% between May and June

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says prices of tomatoes, garri, and other food items increased by 55 percent in June.

The surveyed food items were sold at higher prices in June (last month), according to data released by the NBS.

The food items include beans, garri, yam, tomato, and Irish potato.

Nigeria’s data bureau said the price of tomatoes (1 kilogramme) increased significantly year-on-year by 320.67 percent from N547.28 in June 2023 to N 2,302.26 in June.

“On a month-on-month basis, the average price of this item rose by 55.59% from N 1,479.69 in May 2024,” NBS said.

According to the report, the average price of 1kg for brown beans (sold loose) stood at N2,292.76 in the reviewed month.

“This indicates a rise of 252.13% in price on a year-on-year basis from N651.12 recorded in June 2023 and a 14.11% rise in price on a month-on-month basis from N2,009.23 in May 2024,” the bureau said.

The NBS said there was also a significant price increase in Irish potatoes by 288.5 percent to N2,423.27 in June 2024 — up from N623.75 in the same month last year.

On a month-on-month basis, the NBS said the price of the commodity increased by 51.92 percent from N 1,595.07 in the previous month.

“Furthermore, the average price of 1kg Garri white sold loose went up by 181.66% on a year-on-year basis from N403.15 in June 2023 to N1,135.51 in June 2024, while there was an increase of 1.86% on a month-on-month basis,” the agency said.

“Also, the average price of 1kg of Yam tuber increased by 295.79% on a year-on-year basis from N510.77 in June 2023 to N2,021.55 in May 2024.

“On a month-on-month basis, it increased by 52.87% from N1,322.36 in May 2024 to N2,021.55 in June 2024.”

STATE PROFILE ANALYSIS

According to the report, the state profile analysis in June 2024 shows that the highest average price of 1kg of brown beans was recorded in Kogi state at N3,006.43 while the lowest was in Adamawa state at N1,336.11.

“The highest average price of 1kg of Tomato was recorded in Abuja at N3,992.61 while the lowest was in Kebbi State at N1,200,” NBS said.

“Regarding the average price of 1kg of yam tuber, Lagos state recorded the highest price at N3,376.54, while Adamawa recorded the lowest price at N1,100.00.”

The bureau said Gombe had the highest average price of 1kg garri (white) sold at N1,619.27, while the lowest was reported in Taraba at N900.

“Also, analysis by zone showed that the average price of Bean Brown (sold loose) was highest in the Northcentral at N 2,923.45, followed by the South-south at N2,630.03, while the Northwest recorded the lowest average price at N1,647.03,” NBS said.

“The average price of 1kg of Tomato was highest in the Southwest and the South-east at N3,261.84 and N2,852.59, respectively, while the lowest was recorded in the North-West at N1,411.16.

“The South-west recorded the highest average price of 1kg of Yam tuber at N2,745.80, followed by the North-Central at N2,440.35, while the lowest was recorded in the North-west at N1,238.49.”

The south-west and the north-east, according to the NBS, recorded the highest average price of 1kg of garri (white) — sold at N1,199.62 and N1,155.63, respectively.

On the other hand, the bureau said the lowest average price was recorded in the north-central at N1,055.87.