Price of first class stamp rises to £1.80

Price of First Class Stamp Rises to £1.80

Royal Mail has announced another price hike for stamps, amid growing backlash over its struggle to meet delivery benchmarks. The cost of a first-class stamp has climbed to £1.80, marking a 10p increase, while second-class postage has gone up by 4p to 91p. This comes as the postal service contends with declining letter volumes and a surge in address counts, according to the company.

From next month, business account holders will also encounter higher fees, attributed to the Iran war’s impact on energy costs. Despite these adjustments, dissatisfaction among consumers and businesses persists, with many pointing to Royal Mail’s underwhelming performance as a justification for their discontent.

Only 77% of first-class letters are delivered within a single workday, missing the 93% target. This decline has sparked outrage from consumer advocacy groups, who argue that price increases should be linked to service quality. The latest change is the eighth in five years, intensifying pressure on the postal service from multiple fronts.

Royal Mail’s managing director of letters, Richard Travers, explained the decision in a statement last month:

“We always consider price changes very carefully, balancing affordability with the rising cost of delivering mail.”

However, critics say the recent hikes, combined with poor delivery performance, have fueled frustration, especially after the company’s service was called into question by parliamentary committees.

In recent weeks, MPs and the public have raised concerns about the reliability of Royal Mail’s letter service. Postal workers from across the UK revealed to the BBC that staff were pressured to move or conceal mail to make it seem as though delivery targets were being met. The company responded by emphasizing that 92% of letters are delivered on time, taking the allegations seriously.

March brought further scrutiny as Royal Mail executives addressed parliamentary inquiries about ongoing postal delays. Owner Daniel Křetínský acknowledged the service’s shortcomings but stated he has a plan to improve the situation. This followed comments from Liam Byrne, chair of the Business and Trade Committee, who described the service as “very concerned” about “significant failures” reported since Christmas.

The Business and Trade Committee had previously written to Royal Mail in February, requesting commitments to resolve the “chaos” in some postal regions. The price adjustments, along with service issues, have intensified debates over the postal service’s efficiency and transparency. A decade ago, first-class stamps were priced at 64p, and second-class ones at 55p, highlighting the long-term cost escalation.