Hand sanitiser and dumbbells added to ONS 'inflation basket' as Covid changes habits
Smart watches and tracksuit bottoms also included, with more spent on keeping safe and fit
Hand sanitiser, smart watches and hand weights for home exercise have been added to the basket of goods and services used to calculate the cost of living, in a sign of how spending habits have changed in Britain during a year of lockdown.
In a snapshot of a country learning to live with Covid-19, the Office for National Statistics said there had been a surge in spending on products designed to keep people safe and fit.
White chocolate bars - which have been replaced by malted chocolate sweets, such as Maltesers.
Fruit smoothies - because evidence has shown a shift towards mixed fruit and vegetable drinks.
Ground coffee - which has been replaced by coffee sachets to reflect the trend towards all-in-one drinks.
Axminster/Wilton carpets - which have been removed because research and anecdotal evidence from retailers has indicated that this type of carpet is now used mainly in commercial premises.
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