Published:
Mar 22, 2025
Author:
Sarah Parsons Wolter
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The UK’s latest inflation basket update is in – and it’s a telling snapshot of how modern life is evolving. Out go DVD rentals, in-store cafeteria meals, and newspaper ads. In their place: VR headsets, exercise mats, and pre-cooked pulled pork. The shift reflects more than just price changes; it captures how people are spending their time and money – at home, online, and increasingly on convenience.
Each year, the Office for National Statistics revises the basket to better track the cost of living. This time, the changes signal continued momentum toward emerging tech and quick meals, with legacy items falling away as consumer behavior moves on. Even the way hotel stays are measured has changed, with inflation tracking now accounting for advance bookings to tame volatility (thanks, Taylor Swift).
And while inflation in the UK has eased since its 2022 peak, January’s 3% reading served as a reminder that price pressures remain present in everyday life.
Meanwhile, across the pond, even the Tooth Fairy is feeling the pinch. Delta Dental’s annual survey found the average payout for a lost tooth dropped to $5.01, down 14% from last year. The West, once a high roller at $8.54 a tooth, saw a dramatic 33% drop. Only the South saw an increase, reaffirming its reputation for generous hospitality – even from the Tooth Fairy.
From pulled pork to pearly whites, inflation remains a story told in the smallest of details.
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Counting Pulled Pork and Lost Teeth
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