Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter

As the new financial year looms, increases to a number of household bills - including council tax, energy and water bills - have come into place. We’ve got full details on the seven swelling costs.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has accepted the impact this is likely to have on the public's pocket, but emphasised that millions of Britons will be getting a pay rise after the minimum wage also saw a boost.

The Conservatives, though, say the prime minister is "not serious" about these numbers; leader Kemi Badenoch accused the government of hammering the businesses that pay these wages - citing an upcoming increase to employer National Insurance contributions.

All of this comes before US President Donald Trump announces his much-awaited tariffs on what he has termed "liberation day" tomorrow.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has warned that the UK should brace for impact - we have a live page running on what you can expect.

But, before that arrives, our cost of living correspondent Kevin Peachey has been answering your questions - including on why these bills are rising in the first place.

We're now closing this live page. Should you have any more queries, here's some handy guides to help you through:

• Three ways to cushion the blow of bill rises
• For those with children, some information on child benefit - how much it will go up by and who can claim

Disposable income forecast to grow modestlypublished at 16:03 British Summer Time 1 April

16:03 BST 1 April

By Ben Chu

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has a forecast for a measure of average UK incomes which takes into account most tax increases and government benefit changes.

It also takes into account rises in bills - including water, energy and broadband - which are reflected in the general rate of consumer price inflation.

This measure is called “real household disposable income per person” and the government has made delivering growth in this measure over the Parliament one of its key “milestones”.

In the current financial year of 2025-26, the OBR expects average incomes, according to this measure, to grow by £212 to £24,959 - an increase of 0.9%.

This would be faster than the 0.3% average annual growth of incomes in the last Parliament, but still modest by the standards of growth seen in most Parliaments since the 1950s.

Will the minimum wage rise cancel out the increase in bills?published at 15:55 British Summer Time 1 April

15:55 BST 1 April

By Ben Chu

The government has suggested the squeeze in living costs due to today’s bill rises will be, to some extent, offset by its decision to increase the minimum wage.

The Low Pay Commission estimates that in 2024, external there were around 1.9 million jobs paid at or below the minimum wage, equivalent to around 6.5% of all jobs.

Those in this group will benefit from the increase to both the National Living Wage (for those 21 and over) from £11.44 to £12.21 per hour and the National Minimum Wage (for those aged 18 to 20) from £8.60 to £10 per hour from today.

The government says, external for someone working full time on the National Living Wage, this is equivalent to an annual increase of £1,400 a year in pay.

This might be enough to cancel out an individual’s bill increases from today, although it would depend on their particular circumstances, such as the size of their energy bill, their local council and water provider, and whether or not they drive a car.

Also, this increase does not apply to the roughly 27 million UK jobs which are paid above the minimum wage.

And the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has forecast, external that the government’s decision to increase employer's National Insurance contributions from 6 April, will put downward pressure on the pay of most workers, contributing to a stalling of average inflation-adjusted earnings in 2026 and 2027.

The OBR says this is because it expects employers to “pass on” the costs of the rise to their employees in the form of lower pay than they would otherwise have received.

The charity Citizens Advice is warning that single parents in particular may find themselves struggling as a result of the rising bills.

That’s because, the charity says, these groups often find that a larger proportion of their money is taken up by essential spending.

Laura Roan is a single mum with two daughters, and works part-time in Asda. She tells the BBC how she regularly dips into her overdraft, while also using emergency credit on her energy meter.

"I got paid last Friday and it has all gone. I just live day to day,” she explains.

And, Laura says that without her mum's help, "there would be some days when I would not have any electric".

Laura’s not alone; the charity warns that single-adult households like hers are more likely than others to be spending 20% or more of their post-housing income on bills, which leaves them more exposed to price shocks.

Image source, Laura Roan/BBC

Are wages rising faster than prices?published at 15:38 British Summer Time 1 April

15:38 BST 1 April

By Anthony Reuben

This morning, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told BBC Breakfast: “We know the pressures are there, but for the first time we are starting to see living standards rise, wages rise faster than inflation.”

The most recent wages figures we have from the Office for National Statistics are from January, , externalwhen average earnings adjusted for rising prices were up 1.7% from a year earlier.

That average increase was worth about £12 a week (just over £600 a year), although clearly it does not take into account the significant increases in bills that are coming in from today.

And it’s not the first time that wages have risen faster than prices. It has been happening since the middle of 2023, when the Conservatives were still in government.

Jordan Kenny
Newsbeat politics reporter

Some business owners have been telling the BBC that they will be impacted too. One of those is Robyn, who is used to feeling the strain at The Fitness Bar, an independent gym she owns in Brighton.

But it’s not heavy weights she’s bracing for today. Instead, it’s the increasing cost of running her business.

“It’s a double whammy of worry,” Robyn tells BBC Newsbeat, “because if our costs go up, we have to pass that on to our members.”

Robyn tells us her personal best is deadlifting 150lbs (68kg) but it’s the pounds her members spend that she’s thinking about today.

“We don’t know what financial pressure they’re going to be under with their cost of living going up,” Robyn says.

“There will be members who might look to cancel and it leaves us in quite a worrying position for the future.”

Tarah Welsh
Housing reporter

You've been telling us how the changes are going to affect you. Teaching assistant Julie, who lives in a semi-detached house in Trafford, Greater Manchester, says her council tax is rising by £220 a year.

Her local council - Trafford Council - is raising the tax by 7.5%, citing rising homelessness as a factor. It is one of six councils which have been allowed to bypass the normal 5% cap on increases.

"Everything else is going up and it's getting tighter and tighter," Julie tells the BBC.

The teaching assistant says she understands that councils need to house families but says they should "have a look at housing people in all of the empty properties" to save some cash.

The BBC looked at Trafford Council's spending data and found it's spending more than £3m on temporary accommodation, with a large portion of that on local hotels and B&Bs.

Some families are living for long periods in hotels without kitchen facilities or are sharing bathrooms with strangers in houses in multiple occupation properties.

A lack of affordable homes, rents rising faster than household benefit levels and evictions have contributed to homelessness, which is at the highest level in England since records began.

• How the housing crisis is driving up council tax

We've just finished answering your questions on the rising household bills - here's a quick reminder of the changes:

1. Water bills for households in England and Wales are up by £10 per month on average, but there's a lot of variation depending on the company, external. In Scotland, they’re rising by almost 10%
2. Gas and electricity bills are increasing again - this time by an average of £111 a year to £1,849 - for millions of households
3. Council tax in England is generally going up by 4.99%, with bills in Wales rising by about 4.5% to 9.5%, and in Scotland by at least 8%
4. The standard rate of tax for cars registered after April 2017 is rising by £5 to £195 a year. According to the RAC, external,, external you may pay less or more if your car was first used before 2017
5. Broadband and phone bill rises depend on your provider and contract start date. The cost of a TV licence is also going up by £5 to £174.50
6. Stamp duty will be paid by house buyers in England and Northern Ireland on properties over £125,000 - instead of over £250,000
7. Hidden tax rises are also inbound. This is due to the the freeze on thresholds on income tax and National Insurance. This is often called a "stealth tax" - in short, pay goes up, but the tax thresholds don't, meaning you're more likely to pay a higher rate

There are ways you can ease the pressure of these price rises - take a look at our three tips to help you cushion the blow.

Image source, Getty Images

Kevin Peachey
Cost of living correspondent

James says: "I get £150 in cash out every week. It's amazing how it helps you budget things. Why don't more people try it?"

There is evidence of people turning to notes and coins to help them budget.

Although cash use was hit during the pandemic, it has made a bit of a comeback, with many people taking the same view as James.

However, there are areas in which this doesn't work.

Shopping around for a better deal on essential bills is often something done online, and may require signing up to a direct debit payment. Rewards, or money off, are often also available to those who pay by card.

So, it may well be that using a mix of ways to pay works best - but questions remain about access to cash and internet services among the vulnerable.

That brings our Your Voice, Your BBC News special to an end - stick with us in this feed and we'll bring you more on the increase in household bills.

Kevin Peachey
Cost of living correspondent

David and Steve are among those pointing out that incomes are rising, including via an increase of the minimum wage.

They are correct to say it is not all doom and gloom today.

There is an increase in the minimum wage - up to £12.21 an hour for over 21s - and there are increases too for younger workers and apprentices.

Official figures show that average wages have been rising faster than prices. The state pension and benefits will also go up from next week.

This will certainly help pay some of those bills, and you won't see the impact directly until you look at your bank balance in the coming weeks.

The Treasury is also pointing to moves to freeze fuel duty and ensure the main rates of tax - income tax, VAT and employees' National Insurance - do not go up during this Parliament, as evidence of the support billpayers are receiving.

Let's go back now and look at some more reader comments today:

For the decent hard working citizens of this country its a miserable place to live currently. I have spent the last couple of weeks trying to find ways of saving some money on the raft of bills that have landed on my mat. I have little or no disposable income left. So basically you are working to pay bills with no light at the end of the tunnel, mental health issues? It's going to be a Tsunami! Mary

What about we pensioners? Council tax, water rates, car tax, phone, internet all up around 10%, state pension up 4.3% thanks to the triple lock otherwise Labour would have cut that as well as removing our WFA. Poverty will affect millions of middle earners, never mind the vulnerable at each end of society. Anonymous

I get £150 in cash out every week. It's amazing how it helps you budget things. I would say I comfortably save £100 a week in that way. People should try it. James

My grandparents are really anxious about their bills rising. Like many who spend most of their income on life's basics, they will experience an inflationary increase to their regular outgoings each month of approximately 6%. Bobby

Following on from Kevin Peachey's advice for saving on water bills, we have more tips from money saving expert Martin Lewis.

In the video below, he shares his advice on making sure you aren't ripped off by your water charges.

Kevin Peachey
Cost of living correspondent

Colin Smith asks whether we simply have to accept water bill increases because we can't shop around?

Water services are different, because the 'switch for a better deal' advice simply doesn't, ahem, hold water.

There is plenty of debate over why water bills are going up so much (remember some suppliers wanted bigger increases).

But there are things you can do to keep your costs down, even though you can't shop around.

Experts say getting a water meter fitted can reduce bills if you have relatively low usage. Water-saving shower heads, or similar, are available free from some companies.

Then, there is the WaterSure scheme, which means the bill is capped for people on certain benefits, who have a medical condition, or who have a certain number of school-age children at home. You do need to apply for this help though, external.

Kevin Peachey
Cost of living correspondent

Tashi and Chris are among those asking: "Why are bills going up?"

This is a very simple question, but I'm afraid the answer isn't straightforward. There are a host of reasons why bills are rising.

On energy, it's the consequence of an increase in wholesale prices paid by suppliers, often owing to global events.

Councils and water companies, meanwhile, say there's a desperate need to raise bills to pay for investment in services.

Some bill increases are always scheduled for this time of year, to match the rate of rising prices - inflation.

So another question is: what can you do about it?

Consumer groups are urging people to shop around, claim everything they are entitled to, and cut back where possible. We have a guide to help you here.

Some more comments from you as a range of household bills increase today:

We see these headlines a lot but I feel we rarely see people in my position. There are people like me who are just above that line of being poor and we don’t really get the help and support in terms of benefits. I’m not the poorest but I’m still really struggling. Erin Faulkner, Oxford

As a registered manager of a not-for-profit nursing home for people with complex mental health needs, the changes taking place today are catastrophic. The upcoming employer National Insurance contribution rise, plus an increase in living wage, along with energy, insurance and cost of living could potentially end ours and other providers' service provision. We continue to try to assist staff with wage rises, but we cannot compete with the NHS... It's a stressful and worrying time for people in my position and working in the care sector. Paula Jones, Merseyside

My pension went up £27 a month, yippee. My council tax bill arrived the other day with nearly a 10% increase, so the licensed bandits stole £22 of my pension increase! My broadband just increased £17, so I am running on empty before any other bills arrive. Jamie Cooksey

We're just going to take a quick break from answering your questions this afternoon - in the meantime here are some more of your comments on the household bill increases:

Yes prices are increasing but most are doing so relatively slowly in comparison with house (and other) insurance. My quote for this year is up by 35% - price comparison websites show this sort of increase is across the board. Martin Blanchard

Why are they ignoring those on maternity leave?... I am not entitled to benefits as I ordinarily earn a good wage, however this just simply is not enough. We don’t all have a partner earning enough to cover everything and the cost of childcare negates the option to simply go back to work early. Hannah Brecke

I'm a uni student working part time in hospitality. It's a busy takeaway in Cardiff and because of the minimum wage increases my managers have had to reduce stock and get rid of certain items on the menu. It's too costly to keep due to the rising bills and food costs, not to mention the upcoming rise in National Insurance contributions affecting how much they earn. It also leans into how many hours I get as full timers take priority, meaning I could be missing out. George

Kevin Peachey
Cost of living correspondent

Richard Kendall asks about frozen tax thresholds, which mean pay rises can see people drawn into paying higher rates of income tax.

This is what is known as fiscal drag - not a phrase you'll overhear much in the bar or gym, but it is important.

It means that while income tax rates haven't risen, the income levels at which they are paid have been frozen, and will continue to be so until 2028.

There have been rumours that the freeze could be extended, but there are no concrete plans for that as yet.

So, more people are being dragged into paying higher rates of tax, or simply having a greater proportion of their income taxed.

Taking a closer look at your pay slip is worthwhile, and it needs to be considered when looking at your personal budget. Experts say studying exactly how much post-tax income is coming in, and looking at it alongside your spending, is never a waste of time.

And it may require you to trim some of your spending. Shopping around, or cancelling unused subscriptions are a good start, experts say.

Kevin Peachey
Cost of living correspondent

Lyn Nailer is one of many people asking whether pensioners will suffer the most from these bill rises?

One important point to stress here is that different people, in different areas of the country, will be affected in different ways.

Water and energy bills vary depending on where you live, and the different nations of the UK have different rules on council tax and more.

But the state pension is UK-wide, and the good news for Lyn is that it will be going up by more than the rate of price rises from next week. The triple lock means it will increase by 4.1%.

Does everyone get the full state pension? No.

Does the increase mean pensioners' finances won't be stretched? Of course not.

But when asked about how people will cope, ministers are inevitably pointing to this increase as evidence of how the government is helping out.

Kevin Peachey
Cost of living correspondent

Ian Griffiths, from Flintshire, asks about council tax: "Other than having my bin emptied once a fortnight, I don’t actually have anything for the money I pay?"

In Wales, local authorities are increasing 2025-26 council tax bills by between 5% and more than 9%.

Ian maybe stretching his point a little, with local authorities providing a range of services such as street lighting, parks and care services.

However, at its heart, his question illuminates a debate we've heard - with plenty of input from you all - across our coverage on the BBC today.

Should these bill increases stay at the bare minimum because people are struggling financially, or are our local services in such desperate need of investment that council tax needs to go up above inflation?

Kevin Peachey
Cost of living correspondent

David Bosworth and Jeff Rumble are among those asking about the energy standing charge applied to bills.

This is a household cost which many people feel is unfair - not least because there is nothing you can do about it.

Standing charges are the fees charged to all billpayers to cover the cost of being connected to a gas and electricity supply. They are unaffected by the amount of energy that a household uses.

After rising sharply in recent years, the average electricity standing charge actually fell from today - although it rose slightly for gas. More significantly, it varies considerably depending on where you live.

The energy regulator, Ofgem, is considering reform that would allow people a choice of ways to pay - but stresses that these costs will still need to be covered.