Tue, 01 Apr 2025

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 Why are bills going up? Your questions answered

Bills, bins, and benefits - the BBC's cost of living correspondent Kevin Peachy answers your questions on bill rises.

* Household bills such as council tax, water, gas, and electricity have risen today.
* The reasons for the price increases include global events affecting wholesale prices, councils needing to invest in services, and scheduled increases due to inflation.
* Experts recommend shopping around for better deals, claiming everything you're entitled to, and cutting back on expenses.
* Some people are turning to cash as a way to budget, but this may not be effective for everyone, particularly those who need to pay bills online or use direct debit payments.
* The government's freeze on income tax thresholds means that some people will face higher taxes despite rising wages.
* Standing charges on energy bills vary depending on location and are unaffected by the amount of energy used.
* Local authorities in Wales are increasing council tax by between 5-9%.
* Pensioners may not be significantly affected by the bill rises, as the state pension is increasing by more than the rate of price rises.
* Average wages have been rising faster than prices, and benefits and the state pension will also increase from next week.
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