iPhones kill off 1990s favourites: CDs, cameras and alcopops are removed from the ONS inflation ‘shopping basket’ and replaced by e-bikes, frozen berries and home security cameras
Compact discs, compact cameras and alcopops were binned by stats experts today as their impact on society finally wanes due to the impact of smartphones.
The once-popular music recording system and the sugary bottled booze were removed from the inflationary ‘shopping basket’ of economically significant items by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Compact digital cameras have also been removed as smartphones that take pictures and play music become increasingly ubiquitous, impacting on sales.
Taking their places come e-bikes, frozen berries used in health smoothies and home security camera systems, reflecting the health and security priorities of middle England and Generation Z.
The 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.
OUT: The once-popular music recording system and the sugary bottled booze were removed from the inflationary ‘shopping basket’ of economically significant items by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
IN: Taking their places come e-bikes, frozen berries used in health smoothies and home security camera systems.
‘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.
‘As well as regular changes to the basket our new data source for rail fares will see a big improvement in our calculation for rail fares, which form part of our wider transformation plans to move away from physical price collection and introduce new, bigger data sources in coming years.’
The virtual basket contains over 700 carefully selected items representative of the goods and services that consumers typically spend their money on.
Some items are removed from the basket, some are brought in, while others remain unchanged.
This annual updating reflects the changing tastes and habits of UK consumers and maintains the accuracy and relevance of ONS inflation estimates.
Not all CDS will be removed – just those that don’t make the Top 40 chart.
In total, 26 have been added this year, while 16 have been removed and 717 left unchanged.
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