The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says that prices of selected food items increased in the month of September, notably in the South-East and South-South.

This is according to the NBS Selected Food Prices Watch Report for September 2022 released in Abuja on Friday.

Analysis by zone showed that the average price of 1kg of tomato was higher in the South-South and South-East at N711.32 and N643.25, respectively, while the lowest price was recorded in the North-East at N209.22.

The report said that South-South recorded the highest average price of 1kg of rice (local, sold loose) at N519.22, followed by the South-West with N514.37, while the lowest price was recorded in the North-West at N417.00.

Also, the report showed that the South-East recorded the highest average price of Beans (brown, sold loose) at N789.74, followed by the South-South at N673.16, while the North-East recorded the least price at N397.04.

The report said the average price of 1kg of Tomato on a year-on-year basis, increased by 30.06 per cent from N342.25 recorded in September 2021 to N445.12 in September 2022.

“While on a month-on-month basis, 1kg of tomato increased to N445.12 in September 2022 from N430.93 recorded in August 2022, indicating a 3.29 per cent increase.”

The report showed that the average price of 1kg of rice (local, sold loose) increased on a year-on-year basis by 14.98 per cent from N410.01 recorded in September 2021 to N471.42 in September 2022.

“On a month-on-month basis, the average price of this item increased by 3.82 per cent in September 2022.”

The average price of 1kg of beans (brown, sold loose) increased on a year-on-year basis by 13.14 per cent from N492.13 recorded in September 2021 to N556.81 in September 2022.

Also, the report showed that on a month-on-month basis, 1kg of beans (brown, sold loose) increased by 2.05 per cent from N545.61 in August 2022.

The average price of 1kg of beef (boneless) increased by 24.39 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N1,768.14 recorded in September 2021 to N2,199.37 in September 2022.

Also, the report showed that the average price of Palm oil (1 bottle) increased by 30.70 per cent from N709.50 in September 2021 to N927.34 in September 2022.

“It also grew by 3.42 per cent on a month-on-month basis.”

The report said the average price of vegetable oil (1 bottle) stood at N1,075.89 in September 2022, showing an increase of 32.35 per cent from N812.94 recorded in September 2021.

“On a month-on-month basis, it rose by 2.52 per cent from N1049.49 in August 2022.”

The report showed that at the state level, the highest average price of rice (local, sold loose) was recorded in Rivers at N621.61, while the lowest price was recorded in Jigawa at N371.

The report said that Ebonyi recorded the highest average price of beans (brown, sold loose) at N857.02, while the lowest price was reported in Benue at N368.21.

It said Abia recorded the highest price of vegetable oil (1 bottle) at N1,464.44, while Benue recorded the lowest price at N643.64.

(NAN)