How British spending has changed

The 1947 basket - reflecting the austere post-war world of ration books, stodgy puddings and dripping - contained many items which are not present in today's index. Mangles and galvanised buckets were representative items until the early 1960s Photograph: Graham Turner/Guardian

Increasing affluence and technology can be seen in the move away from tins towards fresh food. Spam was once a staple food in Britain. Luncheon meat was removed from the list in the 1990s Photograph: Roger Tooth/Guardian

Lard entered the basket of the typical shopper in the 1950s. It had dropped off by 1987. Other casualties of changing tastes included wild rabbit meat and mutton Photograph: Sean Smith/Guardian

Fish fingers were added in the 1950s as the trend towards convenience shopping and prepared food continued. Sliced white bread made the list in the early 1960s and remains there still Photograph: David Levene/Guardian

Frozen chips - here advertised by former Blue Peter presenter Valerie Singleton - were added in the late 1980s Photograph: PR

Ready meals and cook-in sauces joined the list in the mid-1990s. Despite the recent popularity of TV cookery programmes they remain an important part of the modern British diet Photograph: Alamy (Royalty free)

No 1970s party would have been complete without oversized tins of beer - by 1987 they had been consigned to history Photograph: Public domain

The representative items index also reflects changing fashions in clothing. The price of caps was taken off the list in the early 1950s. The current basket includes tracksuit bottoms, replica football shirts and trainers Photograph: Don McPhee/Guardian

Girdles were removed in the 1980s - along with fabrics like rayon and winceyette Photograph: Public domain

Radio licences were included until the 1970s. The 'rental and licences' category now includes satellite and digital TV subscription fees and DVDs Photograph: Hulton Getty