April will usher in a whole host of price rises, as utility and service suppliers leap at the chance to raise their rates as a new financial year begins. The cost of living shows no signs of reducing, with everyday essentials all climbing in price.
Council tax, broadband, tram fares and water are just some of the bills due to increase - and there is nothing consumers can do about it. More than one in five people in Britain live in poverty and these booming rates are set to push many further into misery.
There will be support for some, however, with cost of living payments incoming from the Department for Work and Pensions, while the state pension will also increase in April. With some many bills rising in April, we've picked out some of the key changes customers need to know.
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April price rises
Broadband and TV
Telecom companies are allowed to increase prices in line with inflation and add around 4% extra on top of this. It means some providers are increasing their rates by up to 17.7%.
EE, BT and Plusnet customers will see bills rise by around 14.4%, Sky is hiking broadband and TV prices by 8.1%, TalkTalk broadband and landline customers will see their bills go up by 14.2%.
Virgin Media customers with broadband, landline and TV will see their prices go up by 13.8% on average from April or May.
Tram fares
The cost of a single ticket on a Nottingham tram will go up by 20p to £3 in April. The planned price adjustment will see a selection of tickets increase, including the adult day ticket, which will increase by 30p, from £4.70 to £5. Some fares will remain the same, though, including the short hop ticket, priced at £1,.50 and the group ticket prices will stay at £8 for off-peak and £12 during peak times.
Water
Water bills will be upped by 7.5% in April, the biggest increase in two decades. The average annual water bill will now hit £448 in England and Wales.
Easter eggs
Food inflation is at a record 15% in recent days, meaning almost everything you buy will rise in price. Shoppers will see this in the price on Easter eggs in particular, after a surge in the cost of sugar. Expect to pay around 25% more for an Easter egg this year and some producers have even chosen to shrink the size of their eggs.
Council tax
The majority of local authorities are upping monthly payments by 5%, with Nottingham City Council increasing theirs by 4.99%. This unprecedented change has the backing of Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, as before his intervention a council could only up their rates by 2.99% without a referendum.
Prescriptions and dental charges
The price of a single NHS prescription is rising by 30p, from £9.35 to £9.65, starting in April. Meanwhile, the NHS has said that standard charges will go up from April 25 - meaning that the price of a check-up will rise from £23.80 to £25.80 and a filling appointment will cost patients £70.70, up from £65.20, BirminghamLive reports.
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