- Forecast comes despite discount on bills pledged by ministers
- Quickening inflation is pushing up prices faster than wages
Surging energy prices are projected to push one in three British households into fuel poverty by October, intensifying the cost-of-living crisis and heaping pressure on the new prime minister to take swift action.
The number of homes spending more than 10% of total income on energy will jump to 8.2 million that month, when bills are set to rise about 60%, according to charity National Energy Action. The stark outlook takes into account a £400 ($480) discount on bills for all consumers, laid out by the government in May.
Surging energy prices are projected to push one in three British households into fuel poverty by October, intensifying the cost-of-living crisis and heaping pressure on the new prime minister to take swift action.
The number of homes spending more than 10% of total income on energy will jump to 8.2 million that month, when bills are set to rise about 60%, according to charity National Energy Action. The stark outlook takes into account a £400 ($480) discount on bills for all consumers, laid out by the government in May.
Soaring natural gas and power prices are underpinning the steep run-up in bills. The UK energy-price cap is set to leap to a record £3,285 in October, according to Investec Bank Plc, which estimates a further jump to about £3,360 in January. Energy consultant Cornwall Insight Ltd. sees a similar increase.
NEA estimates that 6.5 million households are already in fuel poverty across Britain, an increase of more than 50% in just over six months. That figure is forecast to climb a further 26% in October.
The figures underscore the fiscal challenges facing whoever succeeds Boris Johnson as prime minister — Foreign Secretary Liz Truss or former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak. A decision on the new premier is due on Sept. 5.
