ThisisMoney: Households owe £2.6bn SPIRALLING household bills will hit consumers in the pocket to the tune of £2.6bn this year - equivalent to nearly a penny on income tax, new research shows. Analysts at consultants Capital Economics say inflation-busting increases in gas, electricity, water and council tax bills threaten the hoped-for recovery in consumer spending. And they warn that fresh increases in oil or wholesale gas prices could see domestic utility bills rising again.