High levels of debt on essential UK bills are the ‘new normal’, warn campaigners

Average arrears for housing, utilities and council tax for low-income households all rose last year

High levels of debt on essential bills have become the new normal" for many low-income households, the charity StepChange said on Monday, with average arrears for housing, utilities and council tax all going up last year.

People's budgets have been stretched in recent years as they have faced higher prices for many goods and services, and the crisis in the Middle East has led to concerns over a new wave of increases.