Royal Mail Price Increase Sends First Class Stamp to £1.80
The royal mail price increase has taken effect, lifting the cost of a first class stamp to £1. 80 and adding fresh pressure on customers already frustrated by delayed deliveries. The change came into force on Tuesday, April 7 ET, with second class letters also rising to 91p. Royal Mail says the royal mail price increase is necessary because letter volumes are falling while the number of addresses it serves keeps growing.
Higher costs take hold as delivery pressure continues
The latest royal mail price increase is the eighth in five years and lands at a time when the postal service is facing criticism on several fronts. Just 77% of first class letters are being delivered within one working day, well below the 93% target. The last time Royal Mail met its annual target for delivering first class post on time was in 2019-20.
In the immediate aftermath of the royal mail price increase, businesses and consumers have voiced anger that prices are rising despite the service falling short of expectations. Royal Mail has also raised its fuel surcharge by 5% for domestic services and 5. 5% for international services from May 3 ET, saying the move was not taken lightly. The company says the broader cost pressure reflects the continued rise in delivery costs across a network that now covers 32 million addresses nationwide.
Named figures defend the move, while critics push back
Richard Travers, managing director of letters at Royal Mail, said: “We always consider price changes very carefully, balancing affordability with the rising cost of delivering mail. ” He pointed to the sharp drop in letters being sent and the increase in addresses served. Royal Mail says UK adults now spend just £6. 50 a year on stamps and that 70% fewer letters are sent than 20 years ago.
On the other side, Anne Pardoe, head of policy at Citizens Advice, said the price of stamps “can’t be treated as a dial that is turned up without a clear justification for consumers, forcing people to dig deeper into their pockets for a failing service. ” She added that higher prices should be tied to performance on the doorstep. The charity’s criticism comes as Royal Mail continues to face complaints from MPs and the public about its letter service.
What customers should know now
Stamps bought before the royal mail price increase remain valid and can still be used for postage. Second class stamp prices are capped by Ofcom and rise in line with inflation each year, while Royal Mail is also under a changed service regime that affects second class deliveries.
The royal mail price increase has therefore become more than a pricing story; it is now a test of whether Royal Mail can justify higher charges while its delivery performance remains under scrutiny. The next stage will be whether complaints from consumers, businesses and lawmakers force any further response from the company or its regulator in the weeks ahead.
