More Alcohol-Free Beer, Less Wine in UK Inflation Basket Shakeup

Article content(Bloomberg) — Non-alcoholic beer is being added to the list of goods used to measure UK inflation while different wine categories are merged into one, in a sign Britons are becoming more health-conscious.Sign In or Create an AccountEmail AddressContinueor View more offersArticle contentThe Office for National Statistics said Monday that it will also begin tracking the price of hummus, since vegetables — including processed vegetable products — are under-represented.Article contentWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Article contentThe updates are part of the ONS’s annual review of the items it monitors to calculate inflation. Its so-called basket of consumer goods and services is intended to mirror the main areas where households spend their money.Article contentArticle contentCroissants, motor homes and international rail fares are among the new additions, which will be included for the first time in the February data due for publication on March 25.Article contentTop StoriesGet the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.There was an error, please provide a valid email address.Sign UpBy signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.Article content“This year healthier lifestyle choices influence consumer spending,” according to Stephen Burgess, deputy director for prices at the ONS. Article contentAs alcohol-free beer comes in, stronger, so-called premium bottled lager is falling out, and the measuring of wine prices is being cut back. The ONS is scrapping the distinction its price collectors make between European and New World white wines and replacing the two with a single category. It follows a similar move to merge red wine categories in 2023.Article contentOther changes, like trading TV for streaming subscriptions, reflect a shifting tech landscape. The consumer basket will also include dashboard cameras, which have become more popular due to rising concerns about home and road security.Article contentThe changes come as the war in Iran threatens to push up prices. Policymakers are watching closely to see whether rising energy costs feed through to consumer prices. Most Britons already fear that the conflict in the Middle East will accelerate inflation, particularly via their energy bills.Article contentSupermarket ScannersArticle contentThe ONS is reshuffling not only the contents of the consumer basket, but also the way it collects prices. The statistics agency will begin using data from supermarket scanners to capture around half of the groceries market, while the remaining half will continue to be collected manually by staff in stores and online.Article contentThe long-delayed roll-out is part of the agency’s broader push to modernize data collection methods.Article contentBy recording quantities of the items sold, the change will help by “reducing the need to rely on a fixed basket of groceries,” Burgess said.Article contentTrending Canadians’ average wealth hit $1.07 million, but what’s driving net worth depends on your age, province and bracket Wealth Bank of Canada more likely to cut than hike after 'brutal' jobs report, say economists Economy Once red-hot, Dubai real estate bonds slump on demand fears Real Estate Philippine Central Bank Steps in as Peso Nears Key Level of 60 PMN Business Trump Demands Help From Other Countries to Secure Hormuz PMN Business Share this article in your social networkCommentsYou must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.Create an AccountSign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. Canadians’ average wealth hit $1.07 million, but what’s driving net worth depends on your age, province and bracket Wealth Bank of Canada more likely to cut than hike after 'brutal' jobs report, say economists Economy Once red-hot, Dubai real estate bonds slump on demand fears Real Estate Philippine Central Bank Steps in as Peso Nears Key Level of 60 PMN Business Trump Demands Help From Other Countries to Secure Hormuz PMN Business