‘Dearest day of 2019’ brings these massive price hikes on basic household goods

Consumers should check their energy, phone and broadband deals on Monday to avoid £4.5billion of price hikes, experts warn.

The average household will fork out an extra £240 this financial year to meet a raft of hikes to utility bills, council tax rates and broadband and mobile phone deals from April 1.

Water bills, TV license fee, the cost of NHS prescriptions and dental check-ups are also increasing.

But experts are urging cash-strapped households to shop around today in a bid to limit the surge in monthly outgoings.

Martin Lane, personal finance expert at money.co.uk, said: “The beginning of April is no joke as prices jump up on everything from your council tax to your utilities.

“Spending a few minutes today checking you are on the best broadband or energy deal can save you hundreds of pounds and help reduce your monthly outgoings rather than see them spike.”

Millions of families on standard variable energy tariffs will see bills increase by £117 today after the energy price cap rose from a typical £1,137 to £1,254.

The government price cap was introduced in bid to make the energy market fairer for all by limiting what firms can charge on these default tariffs.

When the cap was introduced in January it cut bills by an average £76 – but that saving has now been wiped out.

Natalie Hitchins, Which? head of home products and services, said: “Many people who hoped the price cap would bring an end to unwelcome price increases will be left reeling after price-hike Monday adds more than one billion pounds to their energy bills.

“If you are one of the millions of energy customers stuck on a rip-off standard variable or default tariff, our advice is simple – switch as soon as possible.

“There has been a recent rise in the number of cheap deals on the market – so you could choose better customer service while potentially saving more than £300 a year.”

The average Band D household in England also faces a £78 hike in Council Tax from April, the second highest increase in a decade, an £8 increase in water bills and a £4 price-hike for a TV licence to £154.50.

Three, EE, O2 and Vodafone have also raised their mobile contract prices and customers with Sky Entertainment, Sky Fibre Broadband and Sky Talk Anytime have been hit with a £2 per month price-rise for each service.

Prescription costs have also gone up by 20p to £9, while the NHS charge for a dental check-up is up by £1.10 to £22.70.

First-class and second class stamps have already seen a 3p price-rise, with a first-class stamp now costing 70p.

And Air Passenger Duty on long-haul flights of over 2,000 miles has risen by 10% or £16.

The start of the new tax year on April 6 will also bring a rise in car tax.

However, some will also see a rise in hourly wages, reduced tax bills and an increase in the state pension.

What's the damage?

• Water — £8
• TV Licence — £4
• Prescriptions — 20p
• Dentist charges — £1.10
• Energy bills (variable) — £117
• Council Tax (Band D) — £78
• Sky — £6+
• Stamps — 3p
• Air Passenger Duty — £16
• Car tax — up to £65

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