Sobering times: alcohol-free beer added to UK inflation basket

Alcohol-free beer was included after sales increased, the ONS said. Photograph: David Burton/Alamy

The UK’s increasing sobriety will be recognised from next month in the basket of goods used to calculate inflation after alcohol-free beer was added to a list by the Office for National Statistics totalling 760 items.

Hummus and pet grooming were also included in the list of goods and services used to help judge the impact of rising prices on the cost of living.