Impact of Inflation on Personal Savings Behaviour Among Civil Servants in Enugu State

Inflation erodes purchasing power and fundamentally reshapes the financial behaviour of households, particularly salaried public sector workers who rely on fixed monthly incomes. This study investigates the impact of inflation on personal savings behaviour among civil servants in Enugu State, situated within Nigeria's South East geopolitical zone. Using a descriptive survey approach, the study collects primary data from 250 civil servants selected through stratified random sampling across five state ministries in Enugu. Data are gathered through structured questionnaires and analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis to determine the direction and magnitude of the relationship between inflation perceptions and savings decisions. The study draws on the life-cycle savings hypothesis and the permanent income hypothesis to provide theoretical grounding. Recent literature points to a complex behavioural dynamic where high inflation simultaneously discourages bank deposits while encouraging informal savings through cooperative societies and thrift schemes. The study examines whether this pattern holds in the Enugu context and explores the specific coping strategies adopted by civil servants including asset diversification, consumption reduction, and participation in rotating savings associations. Findings are expected to provide practical insights for the Enugu State government on managing public sector welfare, for the Central Bank of Nigeria on monetary policy communication, and for financial literacy programme designers. Keywords: inflation, personal savings, civil servants, Enugu State, purchasing power