monetary policy

Nigeria's headline inflation rate declined to 15.10% in January 2026 from 15.15% in December 2025, marking a modest deceleration driven by lower food, fuel, and cooking gas prices, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Monica Cash processes over N500 billion in three years of operations while the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce presents economic reforms to UK investors weighing emerging market exposure amid private credit opportunities.

South Africa recorded a 0.5 percentage point decline in unemployment to 31.4% in Q4 2025, while Britain's jobless rate climbed to its highest level in over a decade outside the pandemic period, highlighting divergent labour market trajectories across major economies.

Multiple African economies are implementing monetary easing policies as inflation pressures subside, with Zimbabwe achieving sub-10% inflation for the first time in nearly three decades while Nigeria reports sharp food price deceleration.

Governments worldwide are intensifying tax pressure on high-net-worth individuals while African financial markets undergo structural shifts, with Nigerian pension funds rotating toward equities and South Africa's central bank mandating greater lending rate transparency.

January's unexpected decline in inflation has intensified pressure on the Central Bank of Nigeria to pivot toward monetary easing, though economists caution that structural vulnerabilities could complicate the policy shift.

Nigeria's headline inflation declined marginally to 15.10% in January 2026 from 15.15% in December, while survey data reveals strong public pressure on the Central Bank to lower lending rates at next week's policy meeting.

Bureau De Change operators report inability to purchase dollars from commercial banks one week after Central Bank of Nigeria announced new foreign exchange guidelines, despite parallel market naira appreciation to N1,385 per dollar.

January's unexpected drop in inflation to 15.10% has ignited speculation about monetary policy easing, though economists remain divided on whether the Central Bank of Nigeria should act swiftly or maintain its cautious stance.

Nigeria's headline inflation declined marginally to 15.10% in January 2026 from 15.15% in December, while survey data reveals strong public support for monetary easing as the Central Bank prepares for its next policy decision.

Regional central banks tighten currency oversight as Botswana's Bank of Botswana prohibits Valentine's Day cash bouquets citing defacement laws, while Zimbabwe's Reserve Bank prepares to issue new ZiG banknotes under strict monetary controls.