NBS February 2026 Food Price Watch Due: Analysts Expect Continued Moderation

Analysts surveyed ahead of the February 2026 NBS Selected Food Price Watch — due for release in mid-March — expect food inflation to remain in single digits for the second consecutive month, continuing the trend from January's 8.89% reading. BusinessDay economists forecast the February reading will come in between 8.5% and 9.2%, supported by stable naira, post-harvest supply from the north and muted demand following post-festive contraction. However, the Ramadan demand uptick in March and the expected tomato supply gap after the dry-season harvest could reverse the trend in Q2 2026.