Bills remain a central concern for UK households this spring, with changes due across essential services from energy to insurance. While many are bracing for increases, not all charges are following the same upward trend.
According to Birmingham Live (Birmingham Mail), a select few costs will hold steady in April 2025, offering a degree of relief amid growing financial pressures. The list of exceptions is limited, but their impact could prove meaningful for certain consumers.
As the government faces mounting calls for support, attention turns to which bills are rising, which aren’t—and what that means for millions across the country.
Energy and Utility Pressures Fuel Public Concern
Despite a freeze on certain bills, many households remain under strain as core services such as energy and water see price increases from April. A recent survey published by the Liberal Democrats found that the “majority of Brits think their energy bill is bad value for money“.
Party leader Ed Davey has called on the government to introduce a social tariff to support vulnerable customers, warning that
Families [are] facing spiralling costs” and urging ministers to “get a grip on energy bills, and fast.
Four mobile providers — Sky Mobile, Lyca Mobile, Lebara, and GiffGaff — have confirmed they will not increase prices in April 2025. These price freezes offer a rare reprieve amid widespread inflationary pressures affecting telecom services and broadband contracts.
Car Insurance Premiums See Notable Decline
Car insurance prices have dropped by 16% over the past year. Financial expert Martin Lewis commented :
What I’m hearing a lot these days is that when people do their renewal, they’re so used to prices going up, when they get a renewal that’s the same price they go ‘yaaay, my renewal hasn’t gone up, I’m sorted’. No.
If your renewal is the same, the market has dropped 16%, you’re paying too much.
Even if it’s a little bit cheaper, you’re paying too much. So my warning is against complacency.
If you’re getting a renewal and it’s not giving you a good saving on what you were paying, well I’d always say don’t auto-renew, don’t settle, combine comparison sites because they serve different insurers and they have different deals even from the same insurers. It’s worth doing, and the perfect time to get your quotes is 26 days before the renewal.
National Living Wage Increase Takes Effect
From 6 April 2025, the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage will rise. For many household earners aged 21 and over, this means a 6.7% increase, amounting to an average of £1,400 more per year.
Those aged 18–20 will receive an additional £1.40 per hour, while apprentices and workers aged under 18 will get £1.15 more per hour. The government estimates that this will benefit around 3 million people. Some businesses have expressed concerns over the impact on wage bills.
The State Pension will rise by 4.1% from 6 April 2025, in line with the consumer price index (CPI) for September 2024, as required by the triple lock. Meanwhile, benefits will increase by 1.7%, also reflecting CPI in September — the lowest level of inflation seen in more than three years.
According to several charities, this will result in an increase of “just a few pounds” per month for most claimants. They continue to urge the government to raise Universal Credit to ensure recipients can cover essential needs such as food and toiletries.
