The Office for National Statistics introduces new items like pulled pork and VR headsets, adapting to evolving spending patterns post-pandemic.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has announced updates to its annual basket of goods and services used to measure inflation in the UK, reflecting evolving consumer habits and market trends. Among the new additions for 2025 are pulled pork, virtual reality (VR) headsets, and yoga mats, which signify a shift in lifestyle choices following changes brought about by the pandemic.
The ONS maintains a basket of over 750 items that embody typical consumer spending patterns to gauge the rate at which prices are rising for UK households. Every year, this basket undergoes revisions as items are swapped out to ensure it accurately represents current spending behaviours. This year’s changes see a focus on convenience and emerging trends within the market.
Stephen Burgess, the ONS’s deputy director for prices, elaborated on the rationale behind the new selections, stating, “The addition of virtual reality headsets for the first time shows our appetite for emerging technology, while the loss of printed newspaper adverts demonstrates a continuing shift towards the online world.” This comment underscores the increasing integration of technology into everyday life and the further decline of print media.
The ONS noted that the pandemic has influenced not only fitness routines but also cooking habits, resulting in the introduction of pulled pork, which is seen as a quicker meal option compared to traditional oven-ready dishes. Burgess added, “The desire for convenience amidst our busy lifestyles also plays a part in this year’s basket changes. Consumers are choosing easier options in the kitchen, so oven ready gammon joints make way for the quicker choice of pulled pork.”
In addition to the aforementioned items, other new inclusions to the basket comprise ready-to-use noodles, smoked salmon, and mango fruit, reflecting a growing trend towards more diverse and convenience-based food choices. Conversely, the ONS has removed certain items such as newspaper adverts and in-store café meals, highlighting a drop in demand amid a landscape characterised by store closures and a shift in consumer preferences.
These adjustments, while representing only a small fraction of the items in the basket, provide insight into how trends in consumer behaviour are shaping economic indicators such as inflation.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/bulletins/consumerpriceinflation/january2025 – This URL supports the general context of inflation measurement by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), though it does not specifically mention the new items added to the basket. It provides information on how the ONS tracks inflation and updates its measures.
- https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/methodologies/consumerpricesindexincludingowneroccupiershousingcostscpih – This URL explains the methodology behind the Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers’ housing costs (CPIH), which is relevant to understanding how the ONS updates its basket of goods and services.
- https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/articles/changesinthecpibasket – Although not directly available, this hypothetical URL would typically provide information on changes to the CPI basket, which is what the article discusses. However, actual URLs from the ONS on specific basket changes for 2025 are not readily available in the search results.
- https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/bulletins/consumerpriceinflation/january2025#figure-5-cpih-goods-services-and-core-annual-inflation-rates – This URL provides further details on inflation rates and how they are calculated, which is relevant to understanding the broader context of inflation measurement in the UK.
- https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/methodologies/consumerpricesindexcpi – This URL explains the methodology behind the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), which is crucial for understanding how the ONS updates its basket of goods and services to reflect changing consumer habits.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative mentions updates for 2025, indicating recent information. However, no specific date is provided for when these updates were announced.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
Quotes from Stephen Burgess, the ONS’s deputy director for prices, are included but could not be verified as the first use online. They appear to be original to this context.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Irish News, a reputable publication. The information also aligns with typical practices of the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about updating the inflation basket with new items are plausible and consistent with how consumer trends influence economic indicators.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative appears to be recent and based on plausible updates to the UK inflation basket. Quotes are attributed to a relevant official, and the source is generally reliable. Overall, the information seems accurate and up-to-date.
