Office for National Statistics adds vinyl, gluten-free bread and air fryers to typical shopping basket used in inflation calculation
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For the first time in 32 years, the cost of vinyl records is being included in the calculations officials use to work out the rate at which prices are rising.
A basket of goods is used by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to calculate the rate of inflation and each year the list of more than 700 items is refreshed to reflect changing buying habits and ensure the figure is accurate.
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This year, vinyl, gluten-free bread, air fryers and edible sunflower seeds are among the 16 additions, while hand hygiene gel, hot rotisserie-cooked chicken, and bakeware are among the 15 items removed, as the impact of the pandemic recedes.
Vinyl records have not been included in the measure since 1992, as CDs took their place. But their increasing popularity means vinyl has made a return.
Gluten-free bread has been added, the ONS said, to reflect the increasing shelf space and range of gluten-free products available to consumers.
The effect of the cost of living crisis can be seen with the addition of air fryers as customers are drawn to their energy-saving features. Spend on items such as air fryers increased by over 30% between 2021 and 2022, the ONS said.
Rice cakes have also appeared due to their increasing popularity in the move towards healthier lifestyles.
Healthy snacking is similarly behind the inclusion of edible sunflower and pumpkin seeds.
Rotisserie chicken has been knocked off the list as many supermarkets ceased sales, the ONS added.
A card game has been introduced to expand the range of games represented in the basket.
As well as adding and subtracting some products, others have been swapped. Two new data storage devices: an SD card and USB stick have been substituted for portable digital storage devices.
The latest figures show the consumer price index (CPI) measure of inflation stood at 4% in the year to January.
