The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported a rise in the prices of beef, rice, beans, onions, tomatoes, and various other food items.
This information was disclosed in the Selected Food Prices Watch report for December 2023, published in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to the report, the average price of 1kg of boneless beef surged by 32.38%, rising from N2,377.29 in December 2022 to N3,146.94 in December 2023.
“On a month-on-month basis, 1kg of boneless beef increased by 3.88 per cent in December from the N3,029.50 recorded in November 2023,’’ the report said.
It said that the average price of 1kg of local rice increased by 81.31 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N506.17 recorded in December 2022 to N917.93 in December 2023.
“On a month-on-month basis, 1kg of local rice increased by 5.85 per cent from the N867.18 recorded in November 2023.’’
It said that the average price of 1kg of brown beans increased by 48.54 per cent on a year-on-year basis, from N586.14 in December 2022 to N870.67 in December 2023.
“On a month-on-month basis, the price increased by 3.79 per cent from the N838.85 recorded in November 2023 to NN870.67 in December 2023.’’
According to the NBS, the average cost of 1kg of onion bulb experienced a year-on-year increase of 122.94%, climbing from N435.93 in December 2022 to N971.86 in December 2023.
“On a month-on-month basis, the price increased by 42.13 per cent from N683.78 recorded in November 2023.’’
The report said that the average price of 1kg of tomato increased by 77.60 per cent on a year-on-year basis, from N458.42 in December 2022 to N814.16 in December 2023.
“On a month-on-month basis, 1kg of tomato increased by 7.32 per cent from N758.65 in November 2023 to N814.16 in December 2023.”
In the examination of state profiles, the report revealed that Osun had the highest average price for 1kg of boneless beef at N3,981.04, with Gombe recording the lowest price at N2,600.
Additionally, Abuja recorded the highest average price for 1kg of local rice at N1,250, while Zamfara had the lowest at N696.55.
The report further indicated that Akwa Ibom had the highest average price for 1kg of brown beans at N1,120.92, with Jigawa having the lowest at N586.04.
In terms of onion bulb prices, Rivers recorded the highest average at N1,433.13, while Adamawa had the lowest at N465.41.
Delta recorded the highest average price for 1kg of tomatoes at N1,461.87, whereas Borno had the lowest at N390.05.
Analyzing by zone, the South-East had the highest average price for 1kg of boneless beef at N3,675.24, followed by the South-West at N3,586.77.
“The lowest price was recorded in the North-East at N2,678.74.”
The South-West and North-Central recorded the highest average price of 1kg of local rice at N987.88 and N940.91, respectively, while the lowest price was in the North-West at N858.00.
The report indicated that the South-East had the highest average price for 1kg of brown beans at N1,048.54, with the South-West following at N1,013.35, while the North-West recorded the lowest price at N675.54.
Furthermore, the South-South and South-East recorded the highest average price for 1kg of onion bulb at N1,310.47 and N1,065.83, respectively, with the lowest recorded in the North-East at N657.84.
The NBS also highlighted that the South-South had the highest average price for 1kg of tomatoes at N1,327.98, followed by the South-West at N1,068.17.
“The North-West recorded the lowest price of 1kg of tomato at N460.64,’’ the NBS said.