Story perspectives

ONS Updates Inflation Basket Amid Health Trends and Geopolitics

3/17/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Office for National Statistics will update its inflation basket next month, adding non-alcoholic beer, houmous, dashboard cameras, and motorhomes.
This change reflects a shift toward healthier habits and increased spending on pet grooming services.
The ONS will replace manual price collection with supermarket scanner data, analyzing 300 million price points monthly.
The Bank of England is expected to hold rates at 3.75% amid inflation concerns from geopolitical tensions affecting oil prices.

History

Historical Context

In 2018, the UK Office for National Statistics updated its inflation basket to reflect evolving consumer habits, including a rise in health-conscious products. This revision, based on analysis of over 300 million price points monthly, highlights significant shifts in purchasing behavior, such as the inclusion of non-alcoholic beer and pet grooming services, emphasizing the need for economic indicators to adapt to contemporary spending patterns.

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Story summary

The Office for National Statistics will update its inflation basket next month, adding non-alcoholic beer, houmous, dashboard cameras, and motorhomes.
This change reflects a shift toward healthier habits and increased spending on pet grooming services.
The ONS will replace manual price collection with supermarket scanner data, analyzing 300 million price points monthly.
The Bank of England is expected to hold rates at 3.75% amid inflation concerns from geopolitical tensions affecting oil prices.

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