Inflation rises to 9.4% in September, in line with FDC's projection

1. Inflation To Nudge Up To 9.4%
FDC Economic Bulletin
Financial Derivatives Company Ltd.
: 01-7739889  www.fdcng.com
October 09, 2015
The CBN in its communiqué in July 2015 said that the inflationary pressures in Nigeria were transient in
nature. Ever since then headline inflation has increased again.
Our forecast for September headline inflation is 9.4%, which is 0.1% higher than the level in August. If
this forecast is accurate, it will mean that headline inflation has increased in 8 out of the 9 months so far
in 2015. Is the inflationary trend now more structural than transient? The primary catalysts of price
inflation in Nigeria are cost-push factors. These are being intensified by the restriction of dollars for some
critical inputs. However, this increasing inflationary trend is happening at a time when the price of diesel
has dropped by 33% from N160 to N108. Diesel is the fuel used by transporters of goods from the farms
to the markets.
Despite a favourable harvest of food items such as tubers and cereals, there was a modest uptick in
September’s price levels, mainly due to the increase in the prices of imported food items such as milk,
wheat and sugar. Furthermore, increased demand for livestock products due to the Eid-el-Kabir
celebrations led to higher inflationary pressures from the food index.
The recent release of the President’s ministerial list will help ease investor uncertainty. Though the new
cabinet did not stir up much enthusiasm, the stable environment created by revealing the President’s
team will help foster positive investor sentiment.
Source : NBS, FDC Research
Chart 1: Headline Inflation Rate

3. Urban prices accelerated in September
The FDC Lagos urban inflation index increased to 11.56% in September, up 0.54% from 11.02% in August.
This is in line with the rising trend in headline inflation.
The y-o-y food index decreased to 13.62% from 11.76%, while the y-o-y non-food index also decreased to
10.51%, from 10.65% in August. The increase in the urban inflation was driven by the increase in food
prices due to Sallah celebrations, even though the harvest period muted increases in food prices. Prices of
onions increased significantly in September. We expect further price increase in October as preparations
for year end celebrations commence.
Inflationary pressures across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
Inflation has generally increased across SSA, especially for commodity producers. Angola’s inflation rose
to a 3-year high of 11.01% in August from 10.41% in July. The country’s rising inflationary trend has been
driven by expensive imports and dwindling oil revenue. Kenya’s inflation rose slightly from 5.84% in
August to 5.97% in September, due to higher costs of housing, clothing and furnishing. However, the
figure is much lower than this year’s peak of 7.08% in April. South Africa’s inflation rate slowed down to
4.6% in August from 5% in July due to a slower increase in the prices of housing, utilities and
transportation.
African central banks are mainly tightening monetary policy to contain inflation. The Central Bank of
Angola maintained its interest rate at 10.5%. Angola’s apex bank had previously increased it three
FDC Economic Bulletin Page 3
Financial Derivatives Company Ltd.
: 01-7739889  www.fdcng.com
Source : FDC Research
Chart 2: FDC Urban Index

5. consecutive times. The Central Bank of Kenya also held its benchmark interest rate at 11.5% at its September
22 meeting. The South African Reserve Bank left its interest rate unchanged at 6% in its September meeting.
The South African Reserve Bank had earlier raised its interest rate by 25 bps in its July policy meeting.
Inflation outlook in October
We expect headline inflation to increase further in October as preparations for year end festivities will
increase demand for both food and non-food items. Furthermore, floods in the Northwest region of the
country have destroyed rice plantations equivalent to circa 11% of the quantity of rice required to meet
Nigeria’s yearly consumption. The lagged effect of this rice shortage will most likely start in October.
There has still been rising inflation despite shrinking money supply. Though the reduction in CRR is
expected to lead to increased money supply, there will not be a significant rise in money supply in the near
future and its effect will be noticed in the coming months. We expect inflation to keep on rising till the end
of the year due to higher spending during Christmas celebrations.
Likely Market Response
Interest Rates
The decision of the CBN to maintain MPR and decrease CRR by 6%, alongside the net outflow of N250
billion due to the TSA implementation, will not result in excess liquidity in the system. Thus we do not
anticipate a change in the direction of the interest rates.
Exchange Rates
The CBN has maintained its position on defending the naira despite pressure from various stakeholders to
have the apex bank devalue the naira or ease the forex restrictions. The forex markets will be influenced by
any directives from the CBN as well as the position of Nigeria’s external reserves, and is therefore unlikely
to react to the inflationary trends.
FDC Economic Bulletin Page 5
Financial Derivatives Company Ltd.
: 01-7739889  www.fdcng.com

6. Stock Market
The influential governor of Kaduna state recently called for a reduction in interest rates in order to aid
economic growth. As an influential and leading member of the APC, his views are likely to be a critical input
into the policy direction of the country. If the CBN yields to the sentiment of lower interest rates, stock prices
will spike in response. Whilst conventional logic will suggest interest rate increases at a time of higher
inflation, it is likely that this might be a countercyclical accommodative policy to stimulate growth.
FDC Economic Bulletin Page 6
Financial Derivatives Company Ltd.
: 01-7739889  www.fdcng.com
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likely future movements in rates or prices or any representation that any such future movements will not exceed those shown in any illustration. All
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