Nearly a quarter of adults had difficulty paying their household bills in the last month compared with a year ago

Nearly a quarter of adults had difficulty paying their household bills in the last month compared with a year ago, according to new research.

That’s an increase from 17 per cent in November 2021, the Office for National Statistics said.

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Brits have been hit by surging price hikes for food, energy and fuel while inflation has soared to 7 per cent.

“While rising household bills will affect most households across the country, they are more likely to disproportionately affect those in the most deprived areas,” the ONS said.

In the most deprived parts of the country 57 per cent of people reported difficulty in paying energy bills, while in the least deprived areas 35 per cent struggled.

“The combination of shrinking pay packets and rising costs means that the pressure on households is building,” said Jack Leslie, senior economist at the Resolution Foundation.

Some supermarkets have responded to the cost of living crisis by slashing prices on hundreds of essential products in a bid to attract customers.

Asda has cut prices on 100 items, including tea bags, rice and cheddar cheese, by an average 12 per cent.

Morrisons has cut 500 prices, including eggs, beef and nappies, by an average 13 per cent.

But consumer group Which? said the move still left them more expensive than Aldi and Lidl.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk