Price of first class stamp rises to £1.80
Price of First Class Stamp Rises to £1.80
The cost of postage has climbed once more, with Royal Mail facing mounting pressure over its service performance. A first class stamp now stands at £1.80, marking a 10p increase, while second class postage has gone up by 4p to 91p. These changes come amid concerns that the postal service is struggling to meet its delivery goals, with only 77% of first class letters arriving within one working day—falling short of the 93% target.
Fuel Surcharge Adjustments
Starting from 3 May, Royal Mail has raised its fuel surcharge by 5% for domestic services and 5.5% for international ones. This decision, described as “not taken lightly,” follows the impact of global fuel costs, which have been exacerbated by the ongoing situation in the Middle East. The adjustment applies exclusively to business account customers.
“Due to rising global fuel costs linked to the current situation in the Middle East, we have increased our fuel surcharge by 5% for domestic services and 5.5% for international services. This decision was made after careful consideration, and we aim to keep the adjustment as low as possible,” said a Royal Mail spokesperson.
Over the past five years, the price of first class stamps has increased eight times. Ten years ago, the cost was 64p, and today it is nearly three times higher. The latest rise has drawn sharp criticism from consumer groups, who argue that price hikes should align with service reliability.
Performance and Public Backlash
Recent weeks have seen Royal Mail deal with complaints from MPs and the public about delays. In February, the company addressed concerns raised by the Business and Trade Committee over “chaos” in postal areas since Christmas. The committee’s chair, Liam Byrne, expressed “very concerned” about reports of “significant failures” in the service.
“We always consider price changes very carefully, balancing affordability with the rising cost of delivering mail,” stated Richard Travers, Royal Mail’s managing director of letters.
Postal workers have also shared frustrations, with some reporting that they are instructed to redistribute mail to create the illusion of meeting delivery targets. Royal Mail acknowledged these claims, insisting it takes them “very seriously” and noting that 92% of letters are delivered on time.
Despite these efforts, the price increase has sparked anger, with critics like Citizens Advice urging the company to link cost adjustments to performance improvements. As the postal service navigates these challenges, its owner, Daniel Křetínský, admitted the situation is not ideal but emphasized a plan to address ongoing issues.
