Nigeria’s Business Activity Expands as Household Confidence Weakens

What changed

Nigeria’s business activity expanded while household confidence weakened, the Central Bank of Nigeria said. At the same time, headline inflation edged down to 15.39% in August 2026 from 15.43% in July, while monthly inflation fell from 1.57% to 0.71%, National Bureau of Statistics figures showed.

Why it matters

The figures describe an economy pulling in two directions. Businesses are becoming more active, but households are not feeling equally assured. That gap matters because stronger business activity does not automatically mean families find prices easier to manage.

The inflation numbers offer some relief, especially the sharper monthly decline. But the headline improvement was small, and it is too early to know whether the slowdown will last. For now, Nigeria has a modest easing in price pressures alongside a confidence problem at home.