Nigeria’s inflation rate falls slightly in July — Vendors display tomatoes for sell at Mile 12 market in Lagos, food prices remain high despite drop in inflation rate to 17.93% in May 2021, on July 7, 2021. The World Bank said the countrys surging inflation and rising prices had pushed an estimated seven million Nigerians below poverty line in 2020. This rise in the food index was caused by increases in prices of Bread, Cereals, Milk, Cheese, Eggs, Fish, Soft drinks, Coffee, Tea and Cocoa, Fruits, Meat, Oils and fats, and Vegetables. (Photo by Olukayode Jaiyeola/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Nigeria’s inflation rate fell slightly to 17.38 percent in July, down from the 17.75 percent recorded in June, according to data released Tuesday by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

This fall between both months was 0.37 percent, the NBS said in its report. The inflation rate has been on a steady decline for four consecutive months, since April.

The composite food index rose to 21.03 percent in July compared to 21.83 percent in June, implying that food prices continued to rise in the month under review but at a slower speed than in June, the statistics office indicated.

The NBS, however, said the rise in the food index was caused by increases in prices of milk, coffee, tea and cocoa, cheese and eggs, vegetables, bread and cereals, soft drinks, and meat.