Rising cost of energy bills leaving workers worse-off

A combination of rising prices and falling real wages has pushed up the cost of essentials in recent years.

To calculate the impact of the rise, researchers at the Resolution Foundation compared the number of hours a median worker would have to work to pay for gas, water and electricity between 2007 and 2013.

Transport costs were also compared from 2010 to 2013, with the rising cost of an average rail season ticket to London recorded against the median commuter's real wages.

The figures meant that, compared to 2010, the median rail commuter now has to work the equivalent of 8.6 extra days to meet the cost of transport and utilities.

Removing the rail ticket and focusing only on utility bills, the median worker now has to work the equivalent of 3.1 extra days to meet the cost of their household essentials compared to 2010.

Britons are having to work at least three more days a year on average to cover the rising costs of essential bills like gas, water and electricity compared to 2010, according to exclusive research for ITV News.

The utility price rises meant the average worker had to labour for 20.1 days (based on a 7.5-hour working day) to cover the cost of their main annual household bills last year, compared to 17.0 days in 2010, because of a fall in real wages, it was calculated.

The study by the Resolution Foundation showed rail users have been hit even harder, with the average commuter forced to work almost five-and-a-half extra days a year to cover their transport costs compared to three years ago.

Train users needed to work 43.1 working days last year to cover the cost of rail travel, compared to 37.7 working days in 2010, the study found.

The combined figures meant train users had to work an average of 8.6 more days a year in 2013 than was required in 2010 to pay for their rail ticket and utility bills.