From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), yesterday, said that the prices of food items have risen to the extent that the average price of 1kg of beef (boneless) stood at N2,479.61 in March 2023.
This, NBS said, indicates a rise in price by 25.05 per cent on a year-on-year basis from the price recorded in March 2022 (N1,982.92) and a 1.38 per cent rise in price on a month-on-month basis from N2,445.96 in February 2023.
The survey was contained in its Food Prices Watch published in its website in Abuja.
The bureau also noted that the average price of 1kg of tomato increased by 13.81 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N409.96 in March 2022 to N466.60 in March 2023. On a month-on-month basis, the average price of the item declined by 0.32 per cent in March 2023.
Also, the average price of 1kg of beans brown (sold loose) rose by 13.13 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N527.66 in March 2022 to N596.96 in March 2023. On a month-on -month basis, it increased by 0.47 per cent from N594.15 in February 2023. Similarly, the average price of 1kg of onion bulb rose by 17.37 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N378.59 in March 2022 to N444.37 in March 2023. On a month-on-month basis, it declined by 1.27 per cent from its value in February 2023.
“The average price of 1kg of yam tuber rose by 25.30 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N353.56 in March 2022 to N443.02 in March 2023. On a month-on -month basis, it increased by 1.51 per cent from N436.41 in February 2023. In addition, the average price of vegetable oil (1 bottle, specify bottle) stood at N1,220.62 in March 2023, showing an increase of 25.80 per cent from N970.29 in March 2022. On a month-on-month basis, this rose by 2.00 per cent from N1,196.68 in February 2023” the bureau, noted.
Also, in its Transport Fare Watch for March 2023, the average fare paid by commuters for bus journeys within the city per drop increased by 0.08 per cent in March 2023 to N648.16 from N647.66 in February 2023, on a year-on-year basis, the average fare paid rose by 20.85 per cent from N536.35 in March 2022.
In another category, the bureau, said the average fare paid by commuters for bus journey intercity per drop increased to N3,992.36 in March 2023, indicating an increase rate of 0.04 per cent on a month-on-month basis compared to the N3,990.70 in February 2023. On a year-on-year basis, this rose by 22.06 per cent from N3,270.94 in March 2022.
In air travel, the average fare paid by air passengers for specified routes—- single journey— increased by 0.28 per cent on a month-on-month basis from N74,571.62 in February 2023 to N74,755.41 in March 2023. On a year-on-year basis, the fare rose by 59.70 per cent from N46,810.62 in March 2022. The average fare paid on okada transportation was N462.21 in March 2023, which was 0.20 per cent higher than the rate recorded in Februry 2023 (N461.28). On a year-on-year basis, the fare rose by 16.98 per cent when compared with March 2022 (N395.12).