Gardening fees in the inflation numbers

IN the age of texting and email, it is a sad but inevitable development. Writing paper is no longer seen as an essential part of the British way of life. It has been dropped from the Government's official shopping basket of goods following a dramatic decline in the sending of personal letters.

Other departures from the list, used to assess the rate of inflation, include tinned corned beef, powdered baby milk, coffee mugs, food processors, dumb bells, slimming milkshakes and cycle helmets. Perhaps more surprisingly, the French baguette also gets an official non.

Unfortunately the Office of National Statistics does not give reasons for its decisions on what is in and out of the shopping basket.

However, it remains a fascinating gauge of changing family priorities. Among the items added this year are champagne, frozen chicken nuggets, cinema popcorn, laptop computers, wooden patio sets (replacing plastic) and leather settees (instead of fabric). Also included are mobile phone handsets and movie DVDs.

Charges to use cash machines are now on the list, reflecting the fact that 40% of hole-in-the-wall machines now impose a fee. The gas-powered barbecue is an item - along with the fees for a gardener.

And the chase for convenience and speed is also reflected in the kitchen. As well as the chicken nuggets, in come pre-packed and washed vegetables, which are now considered a must for the busy homemaker who doesn't have time to wash and peel. And strangely, the frying pan is back in favour.

With many families too busy to visit the supermarket for a big weekly shop, many are relying on the internet. As a result, home delivery fees are now added to the shopping basket.

And while once Dad might have used his spare time to carry out DIY repairs around the home, it appears more are relying on outside tradesmen. As a result, carpenter's fees are added to the list.

The ONS basket will now include the cost of visiting a private surgery and bills for a chiropractor. The fact that the population is ageing, bringing a requirement for care assistants who visit the home, is also recognised.

The changes will feed into February's inflation figure, due to be announced today. Economists are split on whether the Consumer Price Index (CPI) will remain unchanged at 1.6% or rise as high as 1.8%.