Vinyl records are used to help calculate inflation following the revival led by Swift

VINYL record prices are being used to recalculate inflation after a rebound led by the likes of Taylor Swift.

The office National Statistics says it is adding them back to its ‘basket’ of 744 items used in the figure – after a 32-year absence.

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Sofa beds have gone out of fashion and are no longer part of inflation calculations.

But the days of Covid scares are over as hand sanitiser sales have fallen so dramatically that they no longer count.

The last time vinyl records were used to measure inflation in Britain was in 1992, when John Major was Prime Minister and Simply Red’s album Stars topped the charts.

The basket’s latest annual shake-up comes after a sales boom, helped by major artists such as Swift, pictured, The Rolling Stones, Ed Sheeran and Adele appearing on vinyl.

Last year, 6.1 million vinyl albums were purchased, up 11.8 percent from the previous year, thanks in part to the 1989 release (Taylor’s Version). UK Phongraphic Industry boss Jo Twist said that while fans streamed music every day, many younger consumers “also like to own their favorite music on physical formats”.

She added: “Most albums are now released on vinyl by artists and their labels, often as highly collective deluxe editions.”

Twist said there has also been a rise in the number of record stores reopening, “so it feels completely natural that vinyl should once again be seen as a popular indicator of how people choose to spend their money.”

The ONS said it was also adding air fryers to its basket of goods. They have skyrocketed in popularity since then energy crisis as a recommended way to cut down on cooking costs.

Healthier eating has also driven other trends, including edible seeds, rice cakes and spray cooking oil

But rotisserie chicken has been removed from the ONS price measure. Draft Stout is also available as the ONS said its price was often comparable to bitter.

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