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Houmous in, hotels out - what the latest inflation basket says about Britain’s changing spending habits
Houmous is now part of the UK’s official measure of inflation. The popular chickpea dip has been added to the annual “basket of goods” compiled by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), highlighting how Britain’s spending habits - and everyday diets - are changing as supermarkets expand their ranges and consumer tastes evolve.
Gap persists between public and private sector employees; men and women
PensionBee responds to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, revealing public sector workers remain ahead on participation and contributions in workplace pensions, while men continue to be more likely to contribute through work schemes than women.
Nine in ten Brits don’t know their pension tax relief rate
Almost nine in ten Brits (88%) do not know the rate of tax relief they receive on pension contributions
Stagflation fears mount: five ways it could impact your pension and personal finances
Despite oil prices easing and stock markets rebounding, the fallout from escalating tensions in the Middle East continues to filter through to global economies. PensionBee evaluates five ways the latest escalation could impact your personal finances and pension.
Majority of self employed women have not calculated pension impact of maternity leave
Nearly two-thirds (62%) of self-employed women fail to calculate how maternity leave could affect their long-term retirement savings, according to new research from PensionBee.
FCA proposals open door to guesswork on returns, placing savers at risk of harm
Plans that encourage ‘crystal-ball gazing’ in regulatory proposals to create ‘Value for Money’ pension comparisons could financially harm savers and encourage excessive risk-taking by pension schemes.
PensionBee calls for stability ahead of Spring Statement
Ahead of the Spring Statement, PensionBee is warning that further adjustments to pension policy would only add to saver uncertainty, urging the Government instead to commit to long-term stability.
Women out-save men in self-assessment month
Women paid more into their pensions than men in January 2026, for only the second time in PensionBee’s history. Female customers contributed 104% of the amount men contributed, despite accounting for only 42% of total customers.
AI til I die? The rise of ChatGPT in retirement planning
Pension savers are increasingly relying on AI rather than financial guidance and advice websites to kickstart their retirement planning, according to data analysed by PensionBee, a leading online pension provider.
The self-employed without pensions are unaware of tax relief perk - despite openness to saving
PensionBee's latest research reveals that a lack of clarity about how pensions work, rather than a lack of willingness to save, is one of the biggest barriers preventing self-employed people from building retirement savings.
Prepare for the ‘retirement smile’ - what shorter healthy life expectancies mean for pension planning
PensionBee comments on new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showing that the number of years which can be expected to be spent in good health has fallen.
Number of self-employed women highest since 2020
With the number of women in self-employment in the last quarter of 2025 being the highest recorded since mid-2020, Pensionbee comments on what the self-employed need to be wary of when it comes to saving for retirement.
PensionBee calls for pension transfer reform to cover the whole industry, not just part of it
PensionBee has today called on the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to ensure that proposed reforms to pension transfers apply across the entire UK pensions market - warning that anything less would entrench a two-tier system and fail consumers
Gold soars - should you add it to your pension? PensionBee comments
With the gold price at a record high and mounting concerns growing over stock market concentration and volatility, PensionBee offers three key considerations if you’re thinking about adding the yellow metal to your pension.
Lifetime ISA changes - PensionBee urges the government not to forget retirement savers
Proposed changes to the Lifetime ISA (LISA) may simplify support for first-time buyers - but risk abandoning thousands of savers who have used the LISA to save or supplement their retirement, PensionBee warns.
Petition closes as savers trigger Government response on pension switching
PensionBee has welcomed a formal response from the UK Government to its parliamentary petition calling for a 10-day pension switch guarantee, after more than 16,500 savers from all 650 UK constituencies added their names to the campaign.
Four ways completing a tax return can help boost your pension
Missing the Self-Assessment deadline not only risks a penalty for late filing but could cost individuals hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds in unclaimed tax relief.
Oliver Wyman: PensionBee as favourite Fintech
Oliver Wyman London office staff vote PensionBee as their favourite fintech startup in the Fintech Programme.
Meet the Brightonians making extra cash out of their cars
Self-employed juggle tax deadlines and pensions as income volatility undermines long-term saving
New research from PensionBee reveals that while most self-employed workers are actively engaging with pensions, widespread participation is masking a deeper issue.
PensionBee urges action to close the growing gap between retirement expectations and reality
PensionBee has warned that millions of people in the UK are heading towards retirement incomes far below what is commonly understood to be adequate, in its response to the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) call for evidence on Income in Retirement.
Pension procrastination: good intentions mask inaction
Despite good intentions at the start of the new year, most Brits are still putting off pension action
Savers urged to act as pension transfer petition nears deadline
PensionBee is warning that this is the final opportunity for savers to add their names to a petition calling for legislation on pension transfer times
Fintech start-up PensionBee launches next generation, Financial Conduct Authority regulated online pension to simplify UK savings market
PensionBee, an innovative young company, has unveiled a service that helps customers to find their old pensions and combine them into a single, online plan.
Raise the kids or raise your pension? Women hit by increasing pension gap from their 30s
Women face a huge dilemma between retirement saving and raising children, according to data collected by PensionBee.
Almost 9 million UK adults are missing an old pension pot
New analysis conducted on behalf of PensionBee, reveals that nearly one in five (19%) UK adults feel they've probably lost a pension pot.
PensionBee wins at the Computing Tech Marketing & Innovation Awards
PensionBee wins the award for ‘Diversity and Inclusion Champion’ at the Computing Tech Marketing & Innovation Awards.
PensionBee cuts fees for customers with pensions of more than £100,000
‘Super savers’ save up to five times more in their pension than the average for their age group
Some pension savers could wear capes, according to new analysis from PensionBee, which has identified the emergence of ‘super savers’.
‘Pot for life’ pensions are great news for savers
PensionBee Director (VP) of Public Affairs, Becky O'Connor, responds to the announcement that the Chancellor is set to introduce a pension 'pot for life' in the Autumn Statement.
Workplace pension statistics show clear cut case to boost ‘invisible worker’ pensions
Latest statistics highlight the need to support those outside auto-enrolment.
£64 billion in pension savings could be lost track of due to savers not updating their details when moving house
New research from PensionBee finds that almost a third of savers believe that it doesn’t matter whether they inform their pension provider(s) of a change of address.
£113 billion in pension savings could be at risk during the ‘Great Resignation’
New research from PensionBee finds that 63% of UK workers are currently thinking about or in the process of changing their job, in what has been dubbed the ‘Great Resignation’.
95% of drawdown age savers want to see provider charges on drawdown dashboards
New data released by PensionBee shows that of retirement age savers think it's essential they can see how much their provider is charging them when they log in to the Pensions Dashboards.
of savers have a bad pension transfer story
New research from PensionBee finds that of savers, who have previously tried to change pension providers, feel it was so difficult that they would not attempt another transfer.
Young savers catch up with the same number of pension pots as those double their age
New analysis from PensionBee reveals that while young savers have on average saved much less for retirement so far, they have consolidated as many pensions as older savers.
Women’s pension pots could significantly increase if men took equal share of childcare responsibilities
Economic modelling from PensionBee reveals that the gender pension gap could be closed if men and women were to work the same number of paid hours at equal pay.
Women who retire at the same time as their male partner could lose £225,000 in pension savings
New analysis from PensionBee reveals that many women could lose out on as much as £225,000 in pension savings, should they retire at the same time as their male partner.
Women feel less in control of their pensions than men, new data shows
Women are more likely to experience powerlessness over pension savings than men.
Why your love life could be influencing your pension planning
A study by PensionBee and The Open University has uncovered a striking ‘legacy gap’ between gay and straight men.
Women have a smaller pension than men in every UK region
PensionBee has discovered a clear pension gender gap across the UK, which varies depending on region and a saver’s age.
Which policies could have the biggest impact on savers’ retirement savings in the Autumn Statement?
As the Autumn Statement approaches, PensionBee shares its thoughts on suspected changes to pension policy.
What will the new Consumer Duty mean for your pension?
PensionBee explores what the FCA's new approach to consumer finance regualtion, the Consumer Duty, means for consumers.
What the Autumn Budget could mean for UK property
After Rachel Reeves’s pre-Budget speech, major changes to Britain’s housing market are in sight.
Update on Assets under Administration and Invested Customers
PensionBee is pleased to announce that it has achieved Assets under Administration of over £5 billion, reaching 250,000 Invested Customers in June 2024.
UK’s top earners have left £1.3bn in unclaimed tax relief to the Chancellor since 2016/17
Analysis by PensionBee has found that the UK’s highest earners left £1.3 billion of unclaimed pension tax relief to the taxman between 2016/17 and 2020/21.
What do we perceive is ‘old’? It depends how old you are
New research by PensionBee reveals a lack of clear consensus among Brits on the definition of ‘old’ age, suggesting that the adage: ‘you are as old as you feel’, could be true.
Update on Proposed US Expansion
PensionBee Group plc today provides an update on its proposed expansion into the United States of America.
Value of pension pots increases by 16% across the UK while the gender pension gap persists
New analysis of more than 240,000 PensionBee customers reveals a 16% rise in average pension pot sizes across the UK, while the gender pension gap persists.
UK’s highest earners missed out on £2.5bn in unclaimed tax relief between 2016/17 and 2018/19
Analysis from PensionBee has found that over 1.5 million of the nation’s highest earners failed to claim an estimated £810m in tax relief in 2018/19, totalling around £2.5bn between 2016/17 and 2018/19.
UK savers’ biggest financial wins and mistakes: home ownership tops list while debt leads regrets
A survey by PensionBee has uncovered what Brits consider to be their greatest financial triumphs and worst mistakes.
UK consumers back call for Alphabet to report on child online safety
A new survey from PensionBee reveals strong public support for increased transparency from tech giant Alphabet, Google’s parent company, regarding child safety on its platforms.
Two-thirds of Brits support expansion of Auto-Enrolment for invisible workers
New research reveals considerable support for an expansion of Auto-Enrolment.
Transfer delays persist as industry struggles to improve efficiency
PensionBee’s latest analysis of its own data has revealed that some transfers take over two months to complete.
Triple lock sustainability creates generational tension
New research reveals a generational divide over the future of the triple lock.
Three-quarters of pension savers would choose ‘pot for life’ pension
New research from PensionBee reveals a notable enthusiasm among UK pension holders for the recently announced ‘pot for life’ pension model.
Three pension-related reasons you might need to fill out a tax return
With the deadline for 2022/2023 tax returns fast approaching, PensionBee outlines three pension-related reasons you might need to fill one out.
Think millennials don't care about saving for the future? Think again
New research from online pension manager PensionBee has revealed that while young people are anxious about saving for retirement, many are confused about pensions and unaware of how much they need to save.
The ‘pink tax’ found to be a barrier for women investing in long-term savings
New research from PensionBee reveals the impact the ‘pink tax’ has on women’s finances, and their ability to save for retirement.
The chance of making £10,000 is greater with pension contributions than lottery tickets
New modelling from PensionBee reveals that if the UK adults that regularly enter the lottery divert their weekly spend into their pension, they could boost their pot by almost £10,000.
The average pension pot for every UK region revealed
PensionBee has examined a sample of 5,098 savers, looking at how average pot size and pension contributions vary across the country.
Statement regarding Aegon
Statement regarding Aegon on resuming electronic pension transfers with PensionBee.
Supporting shareholder resolutions through pensions
PensionBee responds to the publication of ShareAction’s Voting Matters, which found a decline in the proportion of shareholder resolutions passed from 2021 to 2023.
State Pension highest ever increase in line with inflation “at long last” for pensioners
From 6 April, the full amount of the weekly State Pension will increase by 10.1%, the highest ever rise for 12.5 million recipients.
State Pension age needs to rise to 71 by 2050: PensionBee’s response
PensionBee responds to a new report from the International Longevity Centre that suggests that the UK’s State Pension age will need to rise to 71 by 2050.
Starling Bank customers can now seamlessly track their PensionBee pension without ever leaving the app
PensionBee pensions are now available to sole traders, in addition to the owners of limited companies, through the Starling Business Marketplaces.
Spring Statement silence on pensions crisis
PensionBee has expressed disappointment in the Spring Statement given its failure to address the nation’s pensions crisis.
Shareholders of tech giants fail to address pension savers’ concerns surrounding AI
Despite concerns from pension savers, shareholders of three of the biggest US tech companies have dismissed calls to address the risks associated with AI.
Several pension providers appear to abuse new legislation to block or delay pension transfers
PensionBee has written to Guy Opperman MP, Minister for Pensions and Financial Inclusion, to alert him of a handful of pension providers, who appear to be abusing the latest pension legislation to block and delay consumers from moving their own pensions.
Self-employed savers turn to their pension in 2021
New PensionBee analysis shows that self-employed customers’ monthly contributions and average withdrawal amounts have risen sharply in H1 2021, compared to H1 2020.
Self-employed savers are choosing to keep more of their pension invested for longer
New analysis from PensionBee reveals that self-employed savers are choosing to keep their savings invested despite rising inflation.
Self-employed contribute 30% less to their pensions in lockdown, while overall contribution amounts rise
New data released by PensionBee shows lockdown has had a significant impact on self-employed savers' contribution rates in April 2020, with tax year-end contribution sizes decreasing by 30%.
School costs leave parents’ pensions short-changed, new PensionBee survey finds
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Saving our savings: Building a pension system that works for everyone
PensionBee has issued a manifesto urging the government to improve engagement and transparency within the pension industry.
Savers’ interests must be at the heart of pension market changes
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Savers prioritise their pensions amid rising cost of living
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Savers in their 40s most prepared for later life, yet still some way off a comfortable retirement
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Savers in the South East have the greatest average pension wealth in the UK
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Savers expected to find just 6/10 pensions on Pensions Dashboard
PensionBee estimates that savers would find just 6/10 of their pensions upon logging in to the Pensions Dashboard, when it launches in the 2020s, due to poor data quality.
Romi Savova is one of Grant Thornton's Faces of a Vibrant Economy
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Houmous in, hotels out - what the latest inflation basket says about Britain’s changing spending habits

by
Maike Currie
,
VP Personal Finance
16 Mar 2026
/
2
minute read
Press
16
Mar 2026
Press

London, Monday, 16 March 2026: Houmous is now part of the UK’s official measure of inflation. The popular chickpea dip has been added to the annual “basket of goods” compiled by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), highlighting how Britain’s spending habits - and everyday diets - are changing as supermarkets expand their ranges and consumer tastes evolve.

This year’s update to the collection of more than 750 items used to calculate inflation, comes as the cost of living is firmly back in focus, with concerns mounting that inflation could rise again amid higher energy prices and renewed global uncertainty.

Maike Currie, VP Personal Finance at PensionBee, said: “The inflation basket offers a real-world glimpse into how the UK’s spending habits are changing. Houmous and alcohol-free beer have edged their way in, alongside pet grooming and dashboard cameras - reflecting healthier lifestyles, changing technology and the growing role pets play in household spending. Many of these shifts were kickstarted during the Covid pandemic but now look firmly entrenched in how households live and spend today. Even the way we consume entertainment is evolving, with traditional digital television subscriptions replaced by broader pay-TV subscriptions that capture the move towards streaming and internet-based content.

“The latest ‘shopping basket’ of goods and services arrives at a time when the broader inflation outlook is firmly in focus. Just as inflation looked set to glide back towards the Bank of England’s 2 per cent target, rising energy prices linked to geopolitical tensions have complicated that path.

“If higher oil and gas prices feed through to households, the return to stable inflation could prove bumpier than expected — tempering hopes for near-term interest rate cuts, increasing pressure on household finances and potentially even cooling the UK housing market.”

What’s in the 2026 basket

Houmous – added as vegetable spending rises and supermarkets offer a wider range.

Alcohol-free beer – reflecting the rapid growth in low and no-alcohol drinks.

Dashboard cameras – capturing demand for new in-car technology and security products.

Pet grooming – highlighting rising spending on pet care services.

Motor homes – recognising significant spending in the leisure travel market.

Croissants and breakfast pastries – reflecting everyday bakery purchases captured through new scanner data.

Ready-made sandwiches (shop vs café purchases) – capturing the growing variety of places people buy lunch.

What’s out (or changing)

Hotel prices collected one day in advance – removed to reduce volatility in the index.

Sheets of wrapping paper – replaced with rolls, which better reflect retail availability.

Separate “European” and “New World” white wines – replaced with a single white wine category.

Generic spray oil including olive oil – replaced with non-olive spray oil to improve measurement of different oil types.

Source: ONS

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