UK CPI basket weight: food and non-alcoholic drinks
UK CPI basket weight: food and non-alcoholic drinks stood at 109.61 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 | |||||||||||
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | 109.61 | 112.57 | 113.15 | 119 | 116 | 114 | 99 | 100 | 101 | 103 |
Understanding UK CPI basket weight: food and non-alcoholic drinks
This indicator records the proportional allocation assigned to groceries, fresh produce, non-alcoholic beverages, and hot or cold soft drinks bought for consumption at home within the United Kingdom. It stands distinct from dining out provisions housed under catering sectors, focusing strictly on raw or pre-packaged victuals acquired from supermarkets, specialist stores, and local markets. Compared to luxury or discretionary divisions, this category captures non-discretionary sustenance purchases that form a foundational baseline of household living costs.
Reading this metric involves tracking how changing household budgets alter the relative importance of basic sustenance over time, independent of price fluctuations themselves. Because dietary spending patterns tend to shift gradually, annual adjustments reflect structural changes in household consumption rather than short-term market volatility. Researchers comparing this division with retail price equivalents must account for differing treatment of product lines and sampling frames across distinct statistical frameworks.
Frequently asked questions
- Are alcoholic drinks included in this category?
- No, alcoholic beverages are categorised separately alongside tobacco products.
- Does this series cover meals eaten in restaurants?
- No, catering and hospitality services are grouped under a separate hospitality division.
- Why do these proportional weights change from year to year?
- Weights are updated annually to reflect shifts in how households across the United Kingdom allocate their total budgets.