UK RPI basket weight: all items
UK RPI basket weight: all items stood at 1,000 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 items5 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | |
| RPI: food and catering | 145 | 145 | 142 | 140 | 146 | 157 | 153 | 150 | 152 | 150 | |
| RPI: alcohol and tobacco | 75 | 78 | 90 | 91 | 77 | 75 | 84 | 82 | 79 | 81 |
Understanding UK RPI basket weight: all items
The aggregate scaling factor applied to all consumer spending categories within the retail price index framework across the United Kingdom defines this benchmark figure. The parameter represents the sum of every expenditure weight in the basket, serving as the denominator and normalisation constant for the entire index structure. Unlike individual sub-component rows that isolate specific sectors such as housing or clothing, this total metric encompasses the entire spectrum of tracked household outlays.
Reading this total requires understanding that the figure remains fixed by definition to represent the full basket, while individual internal weights shift annually based on expenditure surveys. Analysts must not compare this aggregate level directly against consumer price index totals, as the underlying item selection, formula construction, and treatment of housing differ fundamentally. Historical comparisons of the basket require noting structural breaks caused by the introduction of new retail items or changes in retail census methodologies.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this total represent parts per thousand for the retail price index?
- Yes, all weights within this classification sum up to form the complete retail price basket denominator.
- How often is the retail price basket total rebalanced?
- The entire basket structure is reviewed and updated annually using comprehensive household expenditure and retail sales data.
- Is this aggregate identical to the consumer price index basket total?
- No, the retail price index uses a different classification system and formula than the consumer price index measures.