The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has again raised the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR), which measures interest rates by 50 basis points, from 26.25% to 26.75% amid soaring inflation and skyrocketing food prices.
The action is at variance with most analysts’ forecast that CBN may stay action on further hike considering rising inflation with the attendant hardship.
However, CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, announced this after the apex bank’s 296th Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.
The MPC also adjusted the asymmetric corridor around the MPR from +100 to -300 to +500 to -100 basis points.
The MPC also retained the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) of deposit money banks at 45% and merchant banks at 14% and retained the Liquidity Ratio at 30%.
Cardoso said the committee was mindful of the effect of rising prices on households and businesses and expressed its resolve to take necessary measures to bring inflation under control.
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He said despite the June 2024 uptick in inflation, prices are expected to moderate in the near term as monetary policy gaining further traction in addition to further measures by the fiscal authority to address food inflation.
The MPC expressed worries that food inflation and rising energy costs continued to undermine price stability.
