Does that reflect your changing habits over the last year? The ONS have released news of changes to be made to the official representative basket of goods whose prices they check to measure inflation.
Each year they update the 700-or so items in the basket so the contents accurately reflect current trends in spending. So the items added and removed provide an interesting view of the goods and services which are most important to us, and how we are choosing to spend our disposable income.
For 2013, they have included blueberries and pre-packed stir-fry vegetables to improve fruit and fresh vegetable coverage - with perhaps a slight shift towards healthier lifestyles?
For our leisure habits, Freeview boxes are out but digital TV recorders in, following the digital switchover, and we may be spending more time reading, as e-books are now to be included.
Apparently young people are buying more white rum from off-licences so that is included, at the expense of champagne as its sales in restaurants and bars dropped by 7% last year - although some off-licence champagne sales are still included.
And it seems that we are buying more charcuterie, but fewer taps....
Quesions for discussions:
A) Do these chages affect you?
B) What is the issue with having an average measure of inflation?
No comments:
Post a Comment