Household bills top £18,500 a year, says survey

Britons are paying out more than £18,500 a year on household bills, according to new research.

Comparison site Confused.com, which carried out the study, said this represents an increase of £642.12 on 2009.

The largest single expense for families is mortgage or rent payments, which typically cost £6,340.44 a year.

Other major annual costs for the average household include food (£3,758.52), credit card bills and loans (£2,802.84) and car insurance (£1,460.04), the site said.

Utilities take a further £1,145.16 a year out of domestic budgets, while council tax typically accounts for £1,225.68.

Based on its 2010 figures, Confused.com said the average consumer will pay out almost a million pounds – £962,148.72 – on bills between the ages of 18 and 70.

A spokesman for the site said many consumers have seen the cost of essentials like food and mortgage repayments go up over the past 12 months.

"Things may only become harder as the new government gets to grips with the country’s financial situation and is forced to raise taxes or cut benefits," he added.

According to charity Credit Action, the average household debt in the UK including mortgage repayments stood at £57,944 in May.

Source: myfinances.co.uk