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Retailers say air fryers, slippers, and electric blankets are booming in popularity this winter as the energy crisis hits UK homes

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Heated mattress protector next to an air fryerHeated mattress protectors and air fryers are just some of the household items surging in popularity this winter amid the energy crisis.

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  • Sales of certain household products have soared in the UK as the energy crisis takes its toll.
  • They include air fryers, heated electric blankets, mattress protectors, and hot water bottles.
  • British homeowners are trying to keep the bills down, while also keep warm this winter.
Bills have skyrocketed in 2022, leaving many UK households struggling to keep warm this winter.A person readies themself on a chilly Monday morning in a residential property after low temperatures and overnight snowfall on south London homes on Ruskin Park in SE24, on 12th December 2022, in London, England.

Richard Baker / In Pictures via Getty Images

Natural gas prices soared worldwide after Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in late February and restricted supplies to Europe.

Consumers in the UK are seeing their bills for natural gas and electricity increase by 80% — that’s an average of £3,549 ($4,200) a year, according to industry regulator Ofgem.

Ofgem attributed the sky-high energy bills to “an aggressive economic act by the Russian state.”

On top of this, the weather has become especially cold since snow hit the UK last week.Two skiiers climb a hill through the snow in Greenwich Park, south-east London. Snow and ice have swept across parts of the UK, with cold wintry conditions set to continue for days.

Victoria Jones/PA Images via Getty Images

Source: Met Office.

Consumers are trying to find ways to keep the bills down while the government, led by UK prime minister, Rishi Sunak, grapples with the energy crisis.Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak leaves 10 Downing Street in central London on December 7, 2022 on his way to take part in the weekly session of Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) in the House of Commons.

Daniel LEAL / AFP via Getty Images

This has resulted in random items surging in popularity, such as air fryers.Person using an air fryer for fried and croissants

Plan Shooting 2 / Imazins/ Getty Images

Sales of air fryers, which circulate hot air inside to cook food, have jumped since the energy crisis hit because they use less energy than ovens — a saving grace when trying to reduce bills.

Research from energy supplier Utilita shows that an electric oven costs more than £315 a year, whereas an air fryer costs around £53.

Tesco, Britain’s biggest grocer, said in October sales of air fryers have skyrocketed by 200% year-on-year as customer look for more energy-efficient options.

Noel Jackson, Tesco’s home electricals category manager, told Insider in a statement: “We’ve been blown away by just how popular air fryers are proving with our customers — so much so that we’ve ordered even more of them to cope with demand in the run-up to Christmas.”

Tesco will receive an extra 40,000 air fryers before Christmas because of the demand, it added.

Sky News reported that price comparison website PriceRunner said sales of some air fryers were up 2,000% since the summer.

Electric heated blankets have also become a popular household item for people in Britain.Man with an electric blanket and reading a book on a sofa

Freer Law/Getty Images

“As the nights draw in and the weather gets colder, our customers are looking for ways to keep cosy without breaking the bank,” Kate Davis, Tesco’s buying manager for home textiles, said in a statement to Insider. “We’ve seen a 500% rise in sales of electric blankets compared to this time last year, as customers look to keep warm at the touch of the button.”

Lakeland, a British kitchenware chain, told Insider sales of its heated textiles, including heated throws, were up 800% year-on-year.

As well as electric blankets, heated mattress protectors are also part of the sales boom.Electric blanket

Chalffy/Getty Images

Lakeland has always sold heated mattress protectors and throws, but this was the most demand it has ever seen, a spokesperson said. They partly attributed the demand to people trying to find savings during the cost-of-living crisis.

“They’re a great way to heat yourself instead of your full house, with lots of the lines dipping out of stock,” the spokesperson said.

One retailer said sales of hot water bottles were up 300%.hot water bottle

Firma V/Shutterstock

John Lewis, one of Britain’s best-known high-street retailers, has noticed various items fly off the shelves as the energy crisis sets in.

Rosie Chalk, a home buyer for John Lewis, told Insider that sales of hot water bottles are up 300% compared with this time last year.

“Customers look for alternative ways to keep warm and save money,” she added.

Slippers are also a customer favorite, with sales exploding this year compared to last.Closeup of a person sitting on a staircase wearing a pair of the Koolaburra by UGG Women’s Lezly Slippers, one of the clever gift ideas on sale for Black Friday

Macy’s

John Lewis said sales of slippers in its in-house line “Anyday” were up more than 50% compared to this time in 2021.

Many British homeowners are eager to keep the cold out with the help of draught excluders.Close Up Of Woman Saving Enegy Insulating Home Putting Draught Excluder Against Front Door

Daisy-Daisy/Getty Images

Using draught excluders could save homeowners up to £125 a year on energy bills, according to research from The Energy Saving Trust.

Next, a British retailer, said it has seen searches for draught excluders increase more than 143% since the start of December.

A spokesperson for Next told Insider the high demand was likely because of “the continued low temperatures across the UK, as households look to preserve heat indoors.”

Read the original article on Business Insider