Kevin Peachey
Cost of living correspondent

Jules says: "I'm single at 57. My wages don't go up in April. Where's the help for us?"

Charities have raised the alarm specifically about people like you, Jules.

Citizens Advice says that single households, including single parents, tend to spend a greater proportion of their income on household bills.

As a result, there is far less wriggle room financially when bills rise.

One solution is to investigate all the options that are open to you. For example, as I'm sure you already know if it includes you, there is a 25% discount on council tax, external for those who live on their own.

But there is, without doubt, a single person premium on the cost of living because there's only one income coming in, so it may be harder to deal with the money going out.

Kevin Peachey
Cost of living correspondent

Moving on to your questions now, and Sam Halkyard, 32, from Rotherham, asks: "How does the government expect the economy to grow with all these bill increases?"

Ministers are pushing their "agenda for growth" at every opportunity, calling for red tape to be cut to pave the way for investment.

There is a delicate balancing act here. The government wants people's living standards to rise, and it wants them to spend to encourage investment by businesses.

Remember all of this comes with a background of wage rises outpacing prices, an uptick in the housing market, and some signs of hope for the wider economy.

But ministers won't want to see a return of runaway inflation - the annual rise of price rises - because that would inevitably lead to a rise in interest rates, and higher borrowing costs for businesses and individuals.

So, outside of this, you are seeing the government push ahead with some big, long-term investment projects, like road tunnels and runways.

We'll shortly be answering your questions on the rising household bills - in the meantime here are some more of your comments:

Smart meters don't work for most households north of the M62, especially not in rural areas like the Yorkshire Dales with very limited mobile connectivity, we are therefore excluded from most of the best tariff deals. We'd love to charge our car on cheap overnight electricity, or join in the switch off at peak times, when we could use our solar panels and/or battery. It's absolutely infuriating. Fiona Armer, Skipton

You say in your report shop around, but when it comes to water bills you cannot. Privatisation has not meant competition or improvement to the water system. Every household needs water and we have to pay no matter what. I cannot change my water company? Anthony, Preston

The triple lock has given myself, and other pensioners, £450 uplift in old age pension - that's £37 a month. TV licence is going up £5 a year, rates £11 a month, phone £5 a month, tax maybe £5 a month, so what's left for increase in cost of food stuffs. William Hughes, Wrexham

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

Just received my water bill and despite being in credit the monthly direct debit has been increased from £40.50 to £74.50! No explanation as to why or what my anticipated usage and future charges will be. I’m dreading receiving my other household bills. Gwen, Hereford

I just want to reiterate the point about contacting internet, phone and TV providers if out of contract. I called BT on behalf of my dad this weekend and his bill is now reduced by £40 per month, with no change to his service! A massive saving. Madeleine, London

As a single woman in my 50s on a basic wage, we are never taken into account. I don’t qualify for any benefits and can barely afford to live. I’m sure there are thousands of us struggling to survive. When I was a single parent I had help to meet my families needs, now I have nothing and have to sell my belongings to try to make ends meet. Rebecca, Northampton

Here are more comments on today's rising household bills:

With regards to energy costs, we have oil, we also could have shale gas, and we are sitting on substantial coal deposits. With technology today I am sure emissions could be reduced substantially. Fred Axon

Southern Water has just raised our bill by more than 56%! This is an outrage and should be reported properly. It is hard to see how we will cope, what with energy bills and council tax going up as well. Isabel Rollings, Bognor Regis

As a single dad raising two young children on my full-time wage - which is 39p above minimum wage - I am feeling these increases massively. I have applied for a council tax reduction but have been told I don't qualify for it...I got paid £2,047 yesterday and after bills I am now left with £750 for the month. That has to cover everything. Kit Cuthbertson

As household bills rise across the country (and minimum wages and state pensions also increase) we're taking your questions and comments. First up, some comments:

I don't understand the comment about pay rises, they are not for everyone. I am not guaranteed a pay rise like MPs. I have not had a pay rise for years. Keith Partington

My employer is in retail. The increase in wages and National Insurance will directly cost us £20m and our supply chain are increasing their costs by 11%, and that is before the trade tariffs kick in. We have been advised already there will be no wage increase for anyone not on minimum wage, and for the fifth year, no bonus either. Liz

I would say the water rates bill has gone up more than an average of £10 per month. Mine has gone up by 39% and I know others that have gone up by 46%. That it absolutely outrageous - but all the mechanisms that are meant to protect the public on what would be classified as a basic commodity have been ignored all the way up to government level. Anthony Lee

As part of Your Voice, Your BBC News, we're taking your questions and comments on this page.

Our cost of living correspondent, Kevin Peachey, will start answering soon. There's still time to get in touch:

• Email: bbcyourvoice@bbc.co.uk, external
• WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803
• Or fill out this form

But before Kevin's answers begin, we'll publish a range of your comments. They're coming up next.

For one family, today's rise in household bills means a difficult decision has to be made about where they live.

South-east London has long been a home for Tolu and Isaac Frimpong and their children, but they say it's now "unaffordable" for them to live in the capital.

You can watch their story by pressing the play button above.

Kevin Peachey
Cost of living correspondent

Among the concerns of charities are those people who are struggling financially, but whose difficulties appear to be hidden.

For example, people who may be just about managing to cover their bills, and bending over backwards to never fall behind on payments.

But in actual fact they are only able to pay because, for instance, they keep their heating off for long periods.

They may also choose not to have the expense of going out, so have little social interaction, affecting their mental health.

All this means they might not seek help, or providers do not pick up on the fact that they are finding it difficult to cope.

With a number of key household bills increasing today, shadow chancellor Mel Stride says the country "can't afford Labour".

On Sunday employer's National Insurance contributions are also due to rise, something Stride calls "reckless".

In a post on X, he says his party will later "set out the damage this ticking tax timebomb will cause to prices, wages and jobs".

Meanwhile Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch says the prime minister "is not serious" when he says the government is giving millions of Britons a pay rise.

"He says he’s giving you a pay rise but he doesn’t pay your wages. Business does. And they’ve been hammered," she writes.

Nicky Campbell is currently taking your calls on today's bill increases on his daily BBC Radio 5 Live show.

You can listen live by clicking the button at the top of this page.

Image source, Getty Images

As we've been reporting this morning, while bills are on the rise, the minimum wage is also going up.

That appears to have been the focus of the government's messaging this morning, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying it shows "if you work hard, you should be paid enough to get on in life."

In a post on X, the prime ministerwrites that "years of Tory decline" are to blame, leaving working people struggling.

"Today we're giving millions of Britons a pay rise", he writes, adding that he believes it shows the government is fighting for working people.

It's a similar sentiment to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, whose post on X this morning cites the increase in the minimum wage as a "promise made, promise kept".

Image source, Getty Images

It might be "awful April", but there are three things you can do to feel the pinch a bit less:

Shop around

For some services you can often get a better deal simply by calling the company you are with and saying you are considering leaving.

That applies to a whole range of bills, including insurance, energy, and broadband.

Cut back

One surefire way to keep your bills down is to reduce what you use.

Taking shorter showers and putting in a showerhead with a slower flow will save you money on your water and energy bills.

The Energy Saving Trust advises draught-proofing your home, including round floorboards, pipework and old extractor fans, and setting the thermostat to the lowest comfortable temperature.

Get help

If you are struggling to pay your household bills, don't panic, says Richard Lane, chief client officer at the StepChange Debt Charity.

He suggests creating a detailed budget that captures all your income and expenditure, and checking what support you are entitled to.

Water companies offer lower "social" and hardship tariffs for people on very low incomes, while people claiming benefits can often also get lower tariffs for broadband.

There are also other discounts available for council tax and TV licence bills.

Kevin Peachey
Cost of living correspondent

Image source, PA Media

There are plenty of questions today – not least for politicians – about how to tackle bill rises.

Energy UK, which represents the gas and electricity suppliers, says today’s energy price rise is the result of wholesale costs rising.

In other words, the price paid by suppliers for energy is up because we are "exposed to global events".

The solution, they say - as do ministers - is to generate energy in the UK. That’s a complicated and long-term business.

Meanwhile, charities say whatever the cause of price rises, the government can do more to mitigate the effect.

Citizens Advice wants an increase in the use of social tariffs, which are discounted prices for the most vulnerable that may need to be paid for through everyone else’s bills.

• Kevin will be answering your questions later - email bbcyourvoice@bbc.co.uk, external; WhatsApp +44 7756 165803; or fill out this form

Richard Lane, chief client officer at debt charity StepChange, is asked on BBC Breakfast where people should start if they're feeling overwhelmed about price rises.

It's not just about "awful April", Lane says, it's been an awful five years.

Lane says people should make an effort to really understand their budgets - and there is nothing to be embarrassed about if you need help.

Go through "line by line" what you have going out, and figure out if you owe anything, he recommends.

There is support for people, he says, and charities like his own can get people back on their feet.

Image source, PA Media

Nick Robinson now asks Reynolds: how much are your bills going up?

Reynolds says he has not done the sums - but Robinson says they've done them for him. His council tax is going up £115, on gas and electricity it's £111, and water is £155.

That's a total of £381, Robinson says.

Reynolds says these are "difficult times", and says in the last 15 years living standards have been declining.

But they are now trying to mitigate the rise of bills, and cites, like he did earlier, actions including triple-lock pensions and free breakfast clubs.

For the "first time in a long time, living standards are increasing and wages are rising faster than inflation", he says.

The conversation with Reynolds turns to today's bill rises and the increased cost of the minimum wage - it's not good for business at the moment is it, Nick Robinson suggests.

(The minimum wage for over 21s, known officially as the National Living Wage, is rising by 6.7%, from £11.44 to £12.21 an hour, with separate rates for other age groups).

Reynolds lists government initiatives that could help businesses cut costs - including business employment allowance, as well as reforms to business rates and planning and regulation.

And he says businesses need "customers with some money to spend" - which is helped by improving wages.

We're hearing again from Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, who is speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

He is asked by Nick Robinson about US President Donald Trump's tariffs, which come into effect tomorrow.

Reynolds has been trying to secure a deal with the US, and he is first asked if the UK will get any exemptions from the expected global tariffs.

Reynolds says only Trump knows what action the US is going to take - but he believes the work the UK has done means it's in the "best possible" position to secure a deal.

Robinson asks if this means the "sucking up" to the US goes on?

"Standing up for the country, doing a strong response to this, is about pursuing your own national interest and the UK's national interest is in reaching an agreement," he retorts.

"It's not about sucking up to anyone."

The media round continues for Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, who is about to appear on Radio 4's Today programme.

He's likely to be pressed further on today's bill rises - follow by clicking listen live at the top of the page.

Graeme Ogston
Tayside and Central Reporter

In Scotland, people face some of the highest council tax rises in the UK, with bills set to go up by at least 8%.

The city of Falkirk has set the highest rise at 15.6%, taking the annual bill for an average band D property to £1,576.77.

Lauren Brown started her clothing business, now called Sisters and Misters, in nearby Lint Riggs in 1996.

The 54-year-old single mum said she started her career when Falkirk was a "boom town", describing the council tax increase as a "slap in the face" to local people.

"I was horrified," she says. "Our town centre is in decline, it's been neglected. Where are we meant to find this extra money?

"You're going to cut back on meals out, nights out, gifts, and cut back on buying clothes and that's where it's going to hit my business.

"People can't just get the money out of thin air."

Falkirk Foodbank, a vital lifeline in the community, has been broken into five times in recent months.

Manager Harrison Crawford says he expects a rise in referrals due to the tax hike - and even before it, the centre had received three tonnes less in donations than last year.