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Pork pies thrown out of inflation basket with quiche added

Pork pies and pasties have been thrown out of the official inflation basket of goods and services used to calculate inflation.

In its annual revision of the 700-odd items, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the two culinary favourites would now be classed under more general " meat-based snack" and "cooked pastry-based savoury snack" entries respectively.

It said the decisions reflected a widening of choices across takeaway outlets, with quiche and chilled mashed potato being added in the food category too.

Other high profile changes included the exit of camcorders - replaced with action cameras.

Edam cheese, peaches and nectarines, leg waxing and ATM charges were also taken out of the basket.

Digital media players such as Amazon Fire were brought in, as were high chairs, body moisturising lotion and women's exercise leggings.

The ONS had reported only last month how it witnessed a dash for gym wear in the month after Christmas as food sales fell.

:: Inflation at 3% adds to rate rise pressure

Senior (Other OTC: SNIRF - news) statistician Philip Gooding said on Tuesday: "Every year we add new items to the basket to ensure that it reflects modern spending habits.

"We also update the weight each item has to ensure the overall inflation numbers reflect shoppers' experiences of inflation.

"However, while we add and remove a number of items each year, the overall change is actually quite small.

"This year we changed 36 items out of a total basket of 714."