Is the cost of living rising? 21 non-food products and services with the biggest price increases in the last year

The cost of living in the UK increased by a record amount in August, with rising gas and food prices now prompting fears for family budgets over the winter and Christmas period.

Last month NationalWorld revealed the 20 food and drink items that had seen the biggest price hikes in the last year, with food as a whole becoming 0.2% more expensive in the year to August.

Margarine topped the table, with a massive annual increase of 13.4%. There were also big price increases for items such as cakes and pastries, offal, lamb and ice cream.

The data was based on the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI), published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which rose by a record 3.2% in the year to August. Figures for September are due out later this month.

But what about non-food products?

The CPI is a measure of inflation that weighs changes in the average price of a basket of goods and services used by households, which can range from energy to haircuts, clothes to plants, personal carers to public transport.

The overall CPI increase masks larger spikes in distinct goods and services, many for activities thought to have increased in popularity during the pandemic – from sewing and gardening, to DIY and camping.

Some year-on-year increases may be temporary, brought about by low costs last year thanks to measures designed to stimulate the economy, such as Eat Out to Help Out and the VAT discount for businesses.

Here we reveal the 21 non-food and beverage goods and services with the biggest price hikes in the 12 months to August, according to the ONS.