Old king coal
The UK's Office of National Statistics has revealed changes to the list of consumer items—the shopping basket
—used to monitor the cost of living in BoJo's playpit. In come meat-free sausages and pet collars, out go men's suits and domestic coal…w-w-w-WHAT? (shock)
The official statistics body pointed out that the sale of domestic coal will be banned in 2023 as part of the government's attempt to tackle climate change. Dropping the item this year protects the index from being affected by big swings in price as that headline [sic] approaches.
Lora Jones, business reporter, BBC News
The only surprise to me was that coal for domestic use was still on the list in the first place.
Growing up in the south-east of England, I remember coal being hauled by dust-blackened men, wearing leather caps and back protectors, tipping their sacks' contents into domestic bunkers. But all that ended in the early–mid '70s, as the neighbourhood moved to gas central heating. Obviously, enough UK households are still reliant enough on coal to warrant its place in the inflation basket, even half a century later.
Truly, it's grim up north. (pipe)
* Actually, neither will care in the slightest.