ABSTRACT

The study is an attempt to investigate the impact of macroeconomic variables on manufacturing sector output in Nigeria .In particular, the study examined the impact of exchange rate and inflation rate on the manufacturing sector performance in Nigeria. In order to achieve this, the study estimated a multiple linear regression econometric model using annual time series data of manufacturing output, average capacity utilization, credit to the manufacturing sector, inflation rate, exchange rate and interest rate ranging from 1981 to 2015. The result of the study established that in the period under review, inflation rate and exchange rate has a statistically significant negative impact on manufacturing output in Nigeria. The study therefore recommends inflation targeting policies that seeks to keep inflation at its barest minimum while encouraging output growth and the adoption of floating exchange rate regimes that allows for the accommodation of external shocks while maintaining a tight monetary policy to minimize the risk of imported inflation.