London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jun 20, 2025

The daily grind: Coffee, white chocolate and office sandwiches are out as UK adjusts its price basket to reflect Covid realities

The daily grind: Coffee, white chocolate and office sandwiches are out as UK adjusts its price basket to reflect Covid realities

Men’s lounge pants and women’s sweatshirts are in, so too coffee bags and hand sanitizer. And ground coffee, white chocolate and office sandwiches are out, reflecting how life has changed under Covid, UK officials say.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS), which puts together the official shopping basket of goods to determine inflation and prices for the UK, has had to adjust to reflect more people working from home and safety precautions because of a year of living through the coronavirus pandemic.

The cost of lounge pants and women’s sweatshirts are now included in the basket while gold chains have been removed – reflecting the fact that fewer are dressing formally to attend work.

Office sandwiches, once a staple of the workplace, have been removed. More convenience foods such as couscous, more frozen vegetables and ready-to-eat meals have been added, reflecting the fact Britons can’t eat out for now.

The ONS also added in hand weights and electronic exercise watches, reflecting the fact that more Britons are exercising at home with gyms closed under Covid-19 restrictions.

“The pandemic has impacted on our behaviour as consumers, and this has been reflected in the 2021 inflation basket of goods,” said ONS analyst Sam Beckett.

The ONS passed on adding the cost of buying masks to the national shopping basket, saying their use would likely decline once a large proportion of the UK population have been vaccinated. They did, however, add in the cost of hand sanitizers.

“The need for hygiene on the go has seen the addition of hand sanitizer, now a staple item for many of us,” Beckett said.

“Spending more time within our own four walls has also encouraged us to invest in smart technologies,” Beckett said. For the first time, the ONS has included hybrid and electric cars. Reflecting a shift away from petrol and diesel models, while it added smart light bulbs because people were making home improvements during lockdown.

The ONS collects around 180,000 separate price quotations monthly on 720 representative consumer goods and services from 140 locations across the UK and online to compile the Consumer Price Index.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
Trump Organization Launches 5G Mobile Network and Golden Handset
Towcester Hosts 2025 English Greyhound Derby Amid Industry Scrutiny
Gary Oldman and David Beckham Knighted in King's Birthday Honours
Over 30,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded Across UK During Overnight Storms
Princess of Wales Returns to Public Duties at Trooping the Colour
Red Arrows Use Sustainable Fuel in Historic Trooping the Colour Flypast
Former Welsh First Minister Addresses Unionist Concerns Over Irish Language
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
King Charles Leads Tribute to Air India Crash Victims at Trooping the Colour
Jack Pitchford Embarks on 200-Mile Walk to Support Stem Cell Charity
Surrey Hikers Take on Challenge of Climbing 11 Peaks in a Single Day
UK Deploys RAF Jets to Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Two Skydivers Die in 'Tragic Accident' at Devon Airfield
Sainsbury's and Morrisons Accused of Displaying Prohibited Tobacco Ads
UK Launches National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
Nationwide 'No Kings' Protests Challenge Trump's Leadership
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
Germany Holds First Veterans Celebration Since WWII
U.S. Health Secretary Dismisses CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee
Minnesota Lawmaker Melissa Hortman and Husband Killed in Targeted Attack; Senator John Hoffman and Wife Injured
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
×