UK RPI basket weight: alcohol and tobacco
UK RPI basket weight: alcohol and tobacco stood at 75 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 1947 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RPI basket, all items | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | |
| RPI: alcohol and tobacco | 75 | 78 | 90 | 91 | 77 | 75 | 84 | 82 | 79 | 81 | |
| RPI: housing and household expenditure | 452 | 455 | 451 | 467 | 488 | 440 | 428 | 423 | 420 | 433 |
Understanding UK RPI basket weight: alcohol and tobacco
Spirits, wine, beer, cigarettes, cigars, and pipe tobacco form this distinct category's proportional footprint within the retail price measure across the United Kingdom. Operating under a legacy classification framework entirely separate from the internationally aligned divisions used elsewhere, this retail price index grouping aggregates specific excise-heavy items into a consolidated proportion summing to parts per one thousand. The series isolates items subject to heavy statutory duties, separating them from general food and beverage divisions and retaining structural traditions that diverge from modern consumer price methodologies.
Interpreting these figures requires recognising that regulatory duty changes and taxation adjustments frequently drive shifts in proportional weight independently of underlying consumer demand volumes. Analysts must avoid drawing direct methodological comparisons between this retail-focused grouping and standard consumer price index divisions due to the distinct formulaic construction and item selection rules governing the retail price basket. Historical continuity across these weights reflects both shifting household purchasing volumes and statutory alterations to indirect taxes, meaning long-term trend analysis must account for periodic methodological adjustments to the retail basket composition.
Frequently asked questions
- Why does this grouping use a different classification structure?
- The retail price index maintains a legacy taxonomy that groups items independently of modern international classification standards.
- How do excise duty changes affect this weight?
- Statutory tax increases on alcohol and tobacco alter consumer expenditure values, which subsequently influence the proportional weight assigned during annual basket updates.
- Can these weights be compared directly to standard consumer price categories?
- No, differences in item selection and index formula construction mean the underlying baskets are not directly comparable.