E-bikes and video doorbells added to UK inflation basket

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The impact of mobile phone technology continues to resonate with the removal of CDs and digital cameras from our basket, reflecting how most of us listen to music and take pictures straight from our phones these days Mike Hardie, ONS The ONS said: “The influence of the Covid-19 pandemic on the basket, which has been so obvious over the last couple of years, has faded from our shopping habits in 2023. “This year’s changes point to the evolving choices of consumers, the rise of new technology and an increasing awareness of our health and environment.” Items scrapped from the basket include CDs from outside the Top 40 charts as the rise of music streaming continues to see CD sales dwindle, with non-film DVDs another to be shown the exit from the collection. Mike Hardie, ONS deputy director of prices transformation at the ONS, said: ”The impact of mobile phone technology continues to resonate with the removal of CDs and digital cameras from our basket, reflecting how most of us listen to music and take pictures straight from our phones these days.” With those given the boot, the list of new entrants shows the switch to new technologies as video doorbells and home security cameras are added, while computer game accessories and soundbars have also been included, as well as home printers. “Items enter the basket for various reasons, with some making the statisticians’ shopping list because of consumer popularity, or simply to diversify the range of products for already established items.” The ONS said it was also changing the data used to calculate rail fares, switching from the Office for Rail and Road’s rail fares index to the Rail Delivery Group, which uses more than 30 million price points in producing the index.