Economic and Financial Review
Publisher
Central Bank of Nigeria
Keywords
Real Effective Exchange Rate, Nominal Effective Exchange Rate, NEER, REER, Indices and Currency
Abstract
The exchange rate is a useful macroeconomic indicator which aid policy makers to take informed actions to stimulate or sustain the economy on a long run growth path. Thus, several exchange rate indices (bilateral nominal/real exchange rate, nominal effective exchange rate, real effective exchange rate, purchasing power parity, etc) are computed for different policy information. This paper computed Nigeria's real and nominal effective exchange rate (REER and NEER) indices using a pool of high frequency monthly data for the period 1996-2007. The paper observed that the REER index appreciated most of the period due to inflationary pressures in Nigeria, implying a loss in Nigeria's competitiveness relative to its major trading partners. The conclusion was that the naira was overvalued in real terms. The NEER also appreciated during the review period against the currency indices of the major trading partners, indicating a stronger naira. The paper advocated a basket approach to naira nominal exchange rate determination in which the relative macroeconomic developments in major trading partner economies are factored into the market exchange rate of the naira. A major shortcoming of the present study is that sub-regional effects of Nigeria's trade with its neighbours were not factored into the computations due to dearth of data. Current data indicate low level trade between Nigeria and its neighbours and other African countries.
Publication Title
CBN Economic and Financial Review
Issue
1
Volume
45
Recommended Citation
Tule, M. K. & Duke, O. O. (2007). Computation of Nigeria's Real Effective Exchange Rate Indices. CBN Economic and Financial Review. 45(1), 1-33.