Discos, crumpets out as Australia tastes alter

SYDNEY (Reuters Life!) - Forget discos, blouses and crumpet makers. Property styling, juice bars and surf lessons are now the rage in Sydney, according to new listings in a telephone directory that gives a snapshot of trends and economic activity.

The 2009 Yellow Pages directory, delivered to almost every home and business in Australia's largest city, said its updated listings show that the needs of Australians have shifted to focus more on health and environmental products and services.

New additions to the latest annual directory include headings for property styling, juice bars, environmental products, pizzas, pet enclosures, and foot and hand carers.

Categories removed from the directory in 2009 include asbestos products, crumpet makers, calculating services, chamois leather, and telex equipment and supplies.

As fashions change, headings such as blouse wholesalers and manufacturers, and skirts and slacks retailers are no longer listed while the category of accessories continues to grow.

But some common products and services have received a language makeover with the word discotheques replaced by nightclubs and handyman's equipment changed to the more politically correct hardware retail.

Yellow Pages spokesman Stephen Harvy said the directory provided a unique chronicle of tastes, trends and economic activity.

"(The directory) provides great insights into what's popular with shoppers and how local businesses are adapting to meet their needs. For example, with people's growing environmental awareness, we've seen an influx of businesses offering environmental products and services," he said in a statement.

Harvy said new and emerging lifestyle-related headings were also providing a good guide to how people were spending their leisure time, with a lot more sporting clubs listed.