E-bikes and berries are favourite for consumers as cigarettes are smoked out

13 March 2023 , 20:11

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Electric bikes have become a new favourite product among Brits (Image: Manchester Evening News)

Electric bikes have become a new favourite product among Brits who want to keep fit and be more environmentally friendly.

Similarly, frozen berries are in too as more people are making healthy smoothies at home - but packs of 20 super king sized cigarettes and alcopops are out.

The findings came after the Office for National Statistics announced its 2023 Basket of Goods and Services.

This shows 743 carefully selected items which are representative of the products and services that consumers typically spend their money on.

The ONS monitor the prices of this virtual ‘basket’ to create monthly inflation figures.

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Every year, the organisation reviews the basket, as a method of ensuring the official measure of the cost of living is as accurate as possible and reflecting shopping trends.

E-bikes and berries are favourite for consumers as cigarettes are smoked out

Victoria Pendleton unveiling an electric version of the Pendleton Somerby bicycle (PA)

This year, 26 items have been added and 16 have been removed from the list showing the changing tastes and habits of people in the UK.

The ONS says the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the basket has faded from Brits’ shopping habits in 2023. This year’s changes point to the evolving choices of consumers, the rise of new technology and an increasing awareness of our health and environment.

Among the other products that have seen a rise in popularity are home security cameras, as a result of more gadgets such as Ring doorbells being available for consumers and homeowners spending more money on protecting their houses.

Meanwhile, digital cameras have declined as smartphones now rival them in terms of quality and non-chart CDs are out due to the rise of streaming services such as Spotify.

Postage charges are out, but parcel delivery services such as Evri and Yodel are in.

Sanitary towels have replaced tampons as the feminine hygiene product women are more inclined to spend money on, while wraps and tortillas have become more widely used for main meal dishes and sandwiches.

As well as reflecting consumer trends and technology, the weighting of different sectors of retail and services is important for an accurate calculation.

The ONS said the removal of alcopops was partly the result of restaurants, cafes and pubs being over-represented.

ONS Deputy Director of Prices Transformation Mike Hardie said: ”The impact of mobile phone technology continues to resonate with the removal of CDs and digital cameras from our basket, reflecting how most of us listen to music and take pictures straight from our phones these days.

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“With many people looking to reduce their impact on the environment, we have also introduced e-bikes, whose popularity has risen significantly in recent years.”

Myron Jobson, Personal Finance Analyst at Interactive Investor, added: “The ONS basket of goods has become ever more diverse, with the inclusion of products that some of us wouldn’t even dream of buying.

“It is not an exact science, and its variety should remind us that the experiences of the rising cost of living is unique to each individual.”

10 items that are in:

E-bikes

Frozen berries

Security cameras

Mouthwash

Sanitary towels

Soundbars

Printers

Computer game accessories

Wraps/tortillas

Parcel delivery services