Price of first class stamp rises to £1.80
Price of first class stamp rises to £1.80
Stamps are undergoing another price hike, with first class postage now costing £1.80—a 10p increase—following Royal Mail’s struggle to meet delivery benchmarks. Second class letters have also seen a 4p rise, reaching 91p.
Royal Mail cited shifting consumer behavior as a key factor, noting that fewer letters are being sent while address numbers continue to climb. Despite this, many businesses and customers remain dissatisfied, citing the company’s performance as a reason for the ongoing rate adjustments.
The service currently delivers just 77% of first class letters within a single working day, missing its 93% target. This latest adjustment marks the eighth consecutive increase in five years, coinciding with mounting pressure on the postal provider from multiple fronts.
In addition, business account holders will face higher charges from next month, attributed to the increased energy costs driven by the Iran war.
A decade ago, first class stamps were priced at 64p, while second class ones were 55p. Last month, Royal Mail’s managing director of letters, Richard Travers, remarked:
“We always consider price changes very carefully, balancing affordability with the rising cost of delivering mail.”
Consumer advocacy groups have voiced frustration over the recent stamp price hikes, arguing that they should be linked to service improvements. The charity Citizens Advice specifically highlighted this issue, stating that price adjustments should reflect actual performance.
Recent weeks have seen postal workers across the UK report being directed to reorganize or conceal mail from senior management to create the illusion of meeting delivery targets. The company acknowledged these claims, asserting that 92% of letters are delivered on time.
March also brought scrutiny from MPs as they questioned Royal Mail executives about persistent postal delays. Owner Daniel Křetínský admitted the service isn’t flawless but expressed confidence in his strategy to resolve the issue. This followed comments from Business and Trade Committee chair Liam Byrne, who expressed “very concerned” about reports of “significant failures” in the letter service.
The committee had previously written to Royal Mail in February, seeking commitments to address “chaos” in some postal regions since Christmas.
