Amidst the September 2024 inflationary surge, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said that Sokoto, Gombe and Yobe States led the country as the most expensive states to live in Nigeria.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) report recently released by the Bureau said the September 2024 headline inflation rose to 32.70 per cent.
The report noted that food inflation rate in September 2024 was 39.70 per cent indicating a slight increase of 0.27 per cent compared to the 39.43 per cent August rate.
Analysis of the data showed that the inflationary pressure on states was not uniform in the period under review.
This means that the state with the most expensive cost of living in September 2024, was not the state with the highest increase in the prices of goods and services.
Analysis of the NBS report by sheds light on the top states with the highest surge in food inflation and its contrasting states
Food inflation in the 12 months ending September 2024, was highest in Sokoto at 50.47 per cent, Gombe at 44.09 per cent and Yobe at 43.51 per cent.
In contrast, Food inflation eased in Kwara State by 32.45 per cent, Rivers State by 32.80 per cent and Bayelsa State by Kogi per cent respectively
However, on a month-on-month basis, inflations saw the highest surge in September 2024 in Sokoto state by 5.94 per cent, accompanied by Taraba state at 5.76 per cent and then Bayelsa state by 4.44 per cent.
The states with the least food inflation on a month-on-month basis include Kwara at 0.88 per cent, Cross-River at 1.29 per cent and Kogi at 1.45 per cent.
The statistics hub said that All items less farm produce and energy or Core inflation, which includes the prices of rents, Bus Journey intercity, Taxi Journey per drop, and Consultation Fee of a medical doctor amongst others were highest in Bauchi state by 44.83 per cent in 12 months.
However, the statistics hub noted that all items inflation was slowest in Lagos state, the Centre of Excellence by 1.82 per cent on a Month-on-Month basis.
The NBS said, “In September 2024, All Items inflation rate on a Year-on-Year basis was highest in Bauchi (44.83 per cent), Sokoto (38.74 per cent), and Jigawa (38.39 per cent ), while Delta (26.35 per cent), Benue (26.90 per cent) and Katsina (27.71 per cent) recorded the slowest rise in Headline inflation on a Year-on-Year basis.
“On a Month-on-Month basis, however, September 2024 recorded the highest increases in Sokoto (4.63 per cent), Taraba (4.07 per cent), Anambra (3.74 per cent ), while Kwara (1.14 per cent), Cross River (1.78 per cent) and Lagos (1.82 per cent) recorded th e slowest rise on Month-on-Month inflation”.