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Stamp Prices Soar Again Amid Service Failures
6 Mar
Summary
- Second-class stamp prices rise by 4p to 91p from April 7.
- First-class stamps increase by 10p to £1.80, a 137% rise in six years.
- Royal Mail has repeatedly failed to meet delivery targets since 2019-20.
The cost of sending mail in the UK is increasing once more, with a 4p rise for second-class stamps to 91p and a 10p increase for first-class stamps to £1.80, effective April 7.
These latest price hikes follow a pattern of regular increases, which have seen the cost of a first-class stamp more than double in the last six years. This surge comes as Royal Mail has repeatedly failed to meet its delivery performance targets, with the last time it met its first-class delivery goal being in the 2019-20 financial year.
Consumer advocates are criticizing the increases, arguing that higher prices should be directly linked to improved service reliability. Concerns have been raised in Parliament about the 'chaos' in postal services, with suggestions of letters being delivered in batches.
Royal Mail attributes the price changes to rising delivery costs, a decline in letter volumes, and an increase in the number of addresses it serves. The company is advocating for reforms to create a more modern and sustainable service, while engaging in talks with the Communications Workers Union regarding proposed changes to delivery schedules, including a pilot for reduced Saturday deliveries.
