Revealed: The one household bill that costs less than it did 10 years ago despite soaring prices
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While the cost of everything from energy and water to Netflix and train fares has soared, one everyday household bill has actually fallen.
Households have been battered by rising prices over the past decade — but one everyday bill has bucked the trend.
From energy and water to council tax, food, beer and even the humble Freddo, the cost of living has climbed dramatically since 2016.
But new research has uncovered one surprising exception: broadband.
Analysis by Broadband Genie found that broadband was the only utility in its study where prices have actually fallen over the past ten years.
And customers aren't simply paying less — they can also get dramatically faster connections for their money.
The figures make for grim reading elsewhere.
Gas and electricity costs are now 82 per cent higher than a decade ago, while average water bills have risen by 69 per cent and Band D council tax is up 56 per cent.
A pint of beer has jumped by 39 per cent, bread by 40 per cent and milk by 52 per cent. Meanwhile, the price of a Big Mac has soared by 80 per cent.
The biggest increase in the research was for a first-class stamp, which has rocketed by 181 per cent.
Netflix subscriptions have risen by 86 per cent, package holidays by 60 per cent and rail fares by 41 per cent.
Broadband, meanwhile, has gone the other way.
The cheapest deals are now around 10 per cent cheaper than they were in 2016, while ultrafast packages have become substantially more affordable.
An ultrafast broadband deal cost an average of £39.65 a month a decade ago. Today, the equivalent costs around £26.30 — roughly a third less.
And the service itself has been transformed.
Budget broadband packages in 2016 commonly relied on copper telephone lines and delivered average download speeds of around 14Mbps.
Today, full-fibre networks and other upgrades mean speeds of more than 100Mbps are widely available.
But there's a catch — millions of households could still be missing out on the savings.
Figures cited by Broadband Genie suggest around 8.8 million broadband customers are out of contract, meaning they could be stuck paying higher standard rates.
Broadband Genie estimates the average household could save £183.60 by switching.
Alex Tofts, strategist at Broadband Genie, urged customers to check when their contracts ended and compare their current deal with what's available.
He said broadband was the one household expense where consumers could “pay less today than you did ten years ago” while getting a faster service.
So if your broadband contract has quietly expired, it could be worth checking the small print — because switching could put hundreds of pounds back in your pocket.