CBN survey shows 68.4% of low‑income Nigerians see inflation as high in August 2026
About 68.4% of Nigerians earning below ₦70,000 perceived inflation as high in August 2026, the highest share across income groups surveyed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, compared with just 30.8% of those earning above ₦450,000. The N70,000 level matches the current national minimum wage, underscoring that low‑income households feel price rises most sharply. The CBN’s Inflation Perception Index stood at 39.6 points in August, down slightly from 40.0 in July, while the share of respondents who saw inflation as high fell from 66.3% to 64.3%. Rural respondents reported stronger pressure (65.7%) than urban ones (63.2%). Among businesses, micro firms recorded the highest perception of high inflation at 101.4%, followed by medium (63.3%), large (63.1%) and small (57.4%) firms. Energy costs, insecurity, interest rates and exchange rates were cited as the main drivers, while raw materials and middlemen played a smaller role. Looking ahead, the CBN projects the index to drop to 19.9 points in September; 29.4% of businesses and 23.2% of households expect inflation to moderate over the next six months. Given these figures, will you adjust your household budget, seek additional income streams, or hold off on major purchases as price pressures persist?