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| The hidden price rises of 1 April | The hidden price rises of 1 April |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| According to the poet TS Eliot, April can be the "cruellest" month. | According to the poet TS Eliot, April can be the "cruellest" month. |
| For millions who will see changes in the welfare benefits system, and a series of price rises announced a while back, his description may ring particularly true in 2013. | |
| But while the benefits changes have been well-publicised, many of the price increases have been forgotten about or overlooked. | But while the benefits changes have been well-publicised, many of the price increases have been forgotten about or overlooked. |
| From Monday 1 April, many of us will be paying more to travel by plane, more to have a bath, and in some cases, more to post a parcel. | From Monday 1 April, many of us will be paying more to travel by plane, more to have a bath, and in some cases, more to post a parcel. |
| Charges for posting some parcels at the Post Offices are going up, as a result of new size criteria. | Charges for posting some parcels at the Post Offices are going up, as a result of new size criteria. |
| Until now parcels have been accepted on the basis of weight only. But from 2 April - Post Offices are closed on 1 April - parcels will be designated as small, medium or large. They will also continue to be weighed. | Until now parcels have been accepted on the basis of weight only. But from 2 April - Post Offices are closed on 1 April - parcels will be designated as small, medium or large. They will also continue to be weighed. |
| Over the last year a parcel of up to 2kg cost £5.30 to post. | Over the last year a parcel of up to 2kg cost £5.30 to post. |
| If it now qualifies as a medium parcel, the price will rise to £8.00. | If it now qualifies as a medium parcel, the price will rise to £8.00. |
| A small parcel can be no bigger than 45cm x 35cm x 8cm. In other words about the size of a cereal box. | A small parcel can be no bigger than 45cm x 35cm x 8cm. In other words about the size of a cereal box. |
| This is deemed by the Post Office as a size which can be delivered relatively easily by a postman. However there are exceptions for some cube or tube shapes, which may still qualify as small. | This is deemed by the Post Office as a size which can be delivered relatively easily by a postman. However there are exceptions for some cube or tube shapes, which may still qualify as small. |
| Other charges will go down. A parcel that weighs between 751g and 1 kilo used to cost £4.30 to deliver, but will now cost £3. | Other charges will go down. A parcel that weighs between 751g and 1 kilo used to cost £4.30 to deliver, but will now cost £3. |
| The Post Office says the changes are necessary to reflect the true costs of delivery, especially larger lighter items, which often need to be delivered by van. | The Post Office says the changes are necessary to reflect the true costs of delivery, especially larger lighter items, which often need to be delivered by van. |
| It began in 1994, when passengers paid just £5 in air passenger duty to fly anywhere in the European Union, or £10 for elsewhere. Nineteen years on, a family of four flying across the Atlantic will pay £268. | It began in 1994, when passengers paid just £5 in air passenger duty to fly anywhere in the European Union, or £10 for elsewhere. Nineteen years on, a family of four flying across the Atlantic will pay £268. |
| In April, the cost will rise by £2 for long-haul flights in economy class, and £4 for long-haul flights in premium classes. | In April, the cost will rise by £2 for long-haul flights in economy class, and £4 for long-haul flights in premium classes. |
| Until now anyone flying in a private jet (defined as less than 19 seats) has managed to escape the tax. | Until now anyone flying in a private jet (defined as less than 19 seats) has managed to escape the tax. |
| But after Chancellor George Osborne closed that loophole last autumn, anyone using a private jet will now have to pay for the first time. | But after Chancellor George Osborne closed that loophole last autumn, anyone using a private jet will now have to pay for the first time. |
| From now on, the tax will rise in line with inflation. | From now on, the tax will rise in line with inflation. |
| There is one way to avoid air passenger duty. | There is one way to avoid air passenger duty. |
| You can take a flight out of Northern Ireland, which, since January this year, has had no duty on long-haul flights. Flights to and from Britain still carry the duty at the lower rate. It follows a UK government decision to devolve the issue to Northern Ireland. | You can take a flight out of Northern Ireland, which, since January this year, has had no duty on long-haul flights. Flights to and from Britain still carry the duty at the lower rate. It follows a UK government decision to devolve the issue to Northern Ireland. |
| Water bills are going up on 1 April by an average of 3.5%. | Water bills are going up on 1 April by an average of 3.5%. |
| According to the regulator Ofwat, that will mean that the average UK household will pay £388 for their water and sewerage this year, an increase of £13. | According to the regulator Ofwat, that will mean that the average UK household will pay £388 for their water and sewerage this year, an increase of £13. |
| The water companies had argued for a larger increase, but were denied by Ofwat. | The water companies had argued for a larger increase, but were denied by Ofwat. |
| But households in some areas will see rises of up to 5.5%, such as customers of Thames Water. | But households in some areas will see rises of up to 5.5%, such as customers of Thames Water. |
| Consumers in the south-west will actually see their bills going down. | Consumers in the south-west will actually see their bills going down. |
| It follows a promise by the government to reduce bills in the region by £50 a household, as bills had been amongst the most expensive in the country. | It follows a promise by the government to reduce bills in the region by £50 a household, as bills had been amongst the most expensive in the country. |
| All this takes no account of other increases in the price of petrol, heating and food, which are not limited to any particular date. | All this takes no account of other increases in the price of petrol, heating and food, which are not limited to any particular date. |
| The most recent official figures confirm that prices are increasing at more than double the rate of wages. In other words, we are continuing to get poorer. | The most recent official figures confirm that prices are increasing at more than double the rate of wages. In other words, we are continuing to get poorer. |
| Overall consumer prices rose by 2.7% in February. By contrast, average earnings are rising by just 1.2%. | Overall consumer prices rose by 2.7% in February. By contrast, average earnings are rising by just 1.2%. |
| Those receiving a state pension will receive a rise of 2.5% in April, so will be amongst the better off this year. | Those receiving a state pension will receive a rise of 2.5% in April, so will be amongst the better off this year. |
| Most of those receiving state benefits, on the other hand, will be amongst the less well off, as the increase in most payments is being capped at 1%. | Most of those receiving state benefits, on the other hand, will be amongst the less well off, as the increase in most payments is being capped at 1%. |