Everything going up in price from April – gas, electricity, national insurance, Sky and more

Millions of people across Britain will find balancing their family budgets more difficult this year as household bills are set to rise.

Coupled with a national insurance hike and inflation rising, the squeeze will really be on from April 2022 when many of the increases come into force.

Bills for electricity, gas, mobile phones, council tax are rising at a time when food price are also on the up.

Interest rates have also risen, putting pressure on those with some types of mortgages.

National Insurance

National Insurance contributions are due to go up by 1.25 percentage points in April as consumers face mounting cost-of-living pressures.

From April 6, employer and employee National Insurance contributions will be put up, with the rate going back to its 2021/22 level the following year, and the income stream replaced by a new health and social care levy of 1.25 per cent.

In a study carried out by polling company Ipsos, 31 per cent of Britons support the National Insurance increase – marginally more than the 28 per cent who are in opposition.

A similar proportion, 31 per cent, neither support nor oppose it.

Virgin Mobile and 02

Bills for O2 and Virgin Mobile customers are to increase by up to 11.7 per cent as the cost of living crisis continues to push prices up.

O2 and Virgin Mobile networks merged last year and bills for some pay monthly customers will rise by up to £48 a year

The increases will hit from April 1 – although the exact amount your bill will rise by will depend on the network you are on, your contract, and when you joined.

Gas and electricity bills

Ofgem was forced to hike the energy price cap to a record £1,971 for a typical household on a standard tariff as gas prices soared to unprecedented highs.

For customers with prepayment meters the price cap will go up by £708 to £2,017 from April, the regulator added.

Rishi Sunak has announced a £9 billion package, including a one-off repayable £200 discount and a £150 rebate on council tax bills, and £144 million to councils to support vulnerable households amid surging energy prices.

The Chancellor added he “doesn’t have a crystal ball” and warned households they will have to adjust to higher energy prices in the future.

Energy companies have started to contact customers about the rises.

Sky

Millions of Sky customers faces rises of £43 extra a year from April, as the telecoms giant raises broadband and TV bills.

The firm said that the average customer will pay an additional £3.60 a month from April, reports The Mirror.

Water bills

Water bills are set to rise from April adding to the cost of living crisis due to hit households across the country.

The average water and sewerage bill will go up by 1.7 per cent in the next financial year, far below annual inflation rates, industry body Water UK said.

It will add £7 to the average bill, an increase which pales in comparison to the £693 added to many households’ energy bills from April.

It means the average yearly bill will rise to £419, with support available for those who need it.

Council tax

Councils across the country are preparing to increase taxes as much as 5 per cent from April.

Local authorities are starting to publish their draft budget proposals for the 2022/23 financial year, which is where you’ll find information on the rise.

If you haven’t been contacted with your new bill just yet, it is worth keeping an eye on your council website to see when they publish the new rates.

However, there will be £150 rebate for all households in England that are in council tax bands A, B, C or D.

Interest rates

The Bank of England has increased interest rates twice in the past three months to rein in rocketing inflation, with the latest rise to 0.5% earlier this month marking the first back-to-back hike since 2004.

It has also signalled that more rises are on the way and experts believe the base rate could hit 1% in May.