Hand sanitiser, sweatpants and electric cars are the new year’s additions to the Consumer Price Inflation basket, the Office for National Statistics announced.
This virtual ‘shopping basket’ is reviewed every year to reflect consumer behaviour and the changes in costs and demand over time.
Hand weights for home exercise, smartwatches and WiFi light bulbs were also added to the basket, showing the effect of stay-at-home orders on the wider public’s shopping lists.
Among the most unexpected items to make the shortlist there were Chicken Kievs, self-tanning products, door handles and kebabs.
Other products were removed from the basket: for instance, white chocolate was replaced by malted chocolate sweets, ground coffee became less desirable than coffee sachets and Axminster/Wilton carpets made their way out after research and anecdotal evidence from retailers has indicated that this type of carpet is used mainly in commercial premises now.
The ONS also reported a boom in face mask purchases too, but it left it out of the basket because it reckons demand will dwindle down after the pandemic.
“The pandemic has brought big changes to our shopping habits. Last February, hand sanitiser was a niche purchase for seasoned festival attendees, but now everyone carries it everywhere,” said Sarah Coles, personal finance analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown.
“The way we shop alters subtly all the time, so it’s worth keeping an eye on what you’re buying and why. There’s an entire retail industry devoted to getting us to upgrade to more expensive versions, so if you’ve accidentally fallen victim to the pressure to trade up, it’s worth checking over your receipt after your next shop and see how much your new habits are costing you.”