Prosecco has replaced lager in the ‘shopping basket’ used by the Office of National Statistics to calculate inflation in the UK.

In a sign of the times, vending machine cigarettes have been ditched from the list, while pork shoulders are replaced by oven-ready joints, which the ONS said was due to a continued shift “towards more ready-prepared foods”.

For the first time, smart phones and the apps that run on them are included on the list, as are fees for internet dating.

“Many of these new items show the way technology is changing our lives,” said ONS statistician Phil Gooding.

“Powerful smart phones and the applications that run on them have become essential for many when communicating or seeking information. Likewise, increasing numbers of people now seek a partner via internet dating sites.”

Read more
Food price research network starts work (12 March 2011)
Focus On Alcoholic Drinks (9 October 2010)

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