Mortgages, energy and water are taking a bigger share of household budgets. According to TUC analysis reported by The Guardian on 15 October, additional costs across these categories since 2021 totalled an average of £13,961 — around £2,792 a year. That does not mean every UK household paid that much more: the calculation covers different types of spending, including borrowing costs that apply only to some households.
The TUC, the Trades Union Congress, based its calculations on official figures, including data from the Office for National Statistics, the UK’s national statistics body. The analysis reported by the newspaper covers the period since 2021, described as the past five years.
Mortgage costs account for the largest share
For households repaying a mortgage, the TUC estimated the average additional cost of repayments at £9,034 over the period, or around £1,806 a year. For households with other loans, the estimated extra cost averaged £1,911 — around £382 a year.
Basic utility bills added to the pressure. According to the calculations, additional spending on gas and electricity averaged £2,644, while extra water costs came to £372 over the period.
These figures should not be treated as a universal bill for every family. Borrowing costs apply to households with those financial commitments, while the annual figures are rounded averages for past years, not forecasts of charges for the coming year. The Guardian’s report does not set out a detailed methodology that would allow the overall figure to be applied to an individual household’s circumstances.
TUC calls for a social energy tariff and tax changes
Presenting the analysis, the TUC called for a social energy tariff — a discounted rate for eligible households — alongside support for poorer households and young people. It also proposed higher capital gains tax and increased taxation of banks. These are proposals from the trade union organisation, not announced government decisions or measures already in force.
TUC general secretary Paul Nowak argued that rising bills were squeezing both household budgets and consumer spending. The analysis seeks to show the cumulative burden over recent years: not simply the size of an individual bill, but the extra costs building up over time.
