UK CPI basket weight: clothing and footwear
UK CPI basket weight: clothing and footwear stood at 56.72 parts per 1000 in 2026, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS). It is one of the indicators in the Consumer price index weights table (Value · Annual), with a complete series running from 1988 to 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Consumer price index weights table
| Indicator | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPI basket, all items | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | |
| CPI weight by division | |||||||||||
| Clothing and footwear | 56.72 | 60.06 | 58.61 | 58 | 60 | 74 | 61 | 67 | 70 | 72 |
Understanding UK CPI basket weight: clothing and footwear
This component quantifies the relative importance of garments, footwear items, repair services, and clothing accessories within the consumer price framework for the United Kingdom. It isolates wearable textile goods from durable household furnishings and personal care products, capturing a sector prone to rapid fashion cycles and seasonal discounting. Unlike rigid utility expenditures, spending in this division frequently exhibits high volatility driven by promotional events and shifting consumer discretionary preferences.
Interpreting this series requires accounting for distinct seasonal patterns, where price collectors record significant promotional markdowns during specific months of the annual cycle. Structural shifts in retail habits, such as the growth of online apparel platforms, influence how this division is sampled and weighted during annual basket revisions. Comparisons with historical retail metrics should be approached carefully due to ongoing refinements in how garment quality changes are handled by statistical compilers.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this series include jewellery and watches?
- No, personal accessories such as jewellery are allocated to the miscellaneous goods and services division.
- How are seasonal sales factored into this measure?
- Price collection accounts for temporary discounts, while the underlying weight reflects total annual expenditure on these goods.
- Are clothing repair services included?
- Yes, minor repairs and tailoring services associated with garments are captured within this division.