Brown ale makes way for latte

Brown ale makes way for latte

Latte coffee will be used to measure UK inflation

Takeaway latte coffees, golf green fees, shower gel and powdered diet drinks have all made it into the "basket of goods" that is used to measure UK inflation.

The Office of National Statistics said on Monday brown ale, cat litter, tinned spaghetti and vinyl flooring were on their way out "to reflect changing tastes and spending patterns."

The basket is based on a survey of consumer's spending habits and contains 650 goods and services.

Shopping basket

IN

round lettuce

diet-aid drink powder

takeaway caffe latte

takeaway kebab

draught premium lager

air fares

designer spectacles

hair and shower gel

OUT

brown ale

men's belt

battery powered clock

electronic keyboard

lead replacement petrol

fixed telephone

laundrette charge

dry cat food

Is the takeaway latte the right symbol for modern Britain?

The Retail Prices Index - the main measure of UK inflation - is updated annually and is used to measure inflation.

Len Cook, the National Statistician, said: "Households appear to be changing their eating habits to cope with busy lives, changing tastes and leisure patterns."

The changes will be used in the February RPI figure, which is due out on Tuesday.

Today's fast-paced lifestyle has seen an increasing use of takeaways and convenience foods, plus the growth of coffee shop chains such as Starbucks or Cafe Nero.

Frozen fish in sauce, fixed telephone handsets, women's slips and lead replacement petrol are no longer used in the basket because consumers spend less money on these items.

Laundrette charges and women's shoe repairs are also on their way out as most people nowadays have a washing machine in their houses, while shoes are more often replaced rather than repaired.