Price rise announced

The price of stamps has risen again, as the postal service faces criticism for failing to hit delivery targets.

A first‑class stamp now costs £1.80 – an increase of 10 p – while a second‑class letter has risen by 4 p to 91 p.

Royal Mail has said the increases are necessary because people are sending far fewer letters while the number of addresses continues to increase.

Many businesses and consumers are unhappy the price rise is going ahead despite the company's performance.

Delivery performance under pressure

Just 77 % of first‑class letters are being delivered within one working day against a target of 93 %.

The latest rise is the eighth increase in five years, and comes at a time when Royal Mail is under growing pressure on several fronts.

In recent weeks, Royal Mail has faced several complaints from MPs and the public about its letter service.

From next month business account holders also face some higher charges because the Iran war has increased the cost of energy.

Ten years ago, a first‑class stamp cost 64 p while a second‑class stamp was 55 p.

Official statements from Royal Mail

Announcing the price increase last month, Royal Mail's managing director of letters, Richard Travers, said: "We always consider price changes very carefully, balancing affordability with the rising cost of delivering mail."

The jump in stamp prices over the past few years, together with Royal Mail's poor delivery performance, has angered many consumer groups.

The rise has been criticised by the charity Citizens Advice, which last month said price rises should be tied to performance.

In recent weeks, the Royal Mail has faced several complaints from MPs and the public about its letter service.

Last month, postal workers from across the UK told the GREE they were being asked to move or hide mail from senior bosses so it looked like delivery targets were being met.

Royal Mail said it took claims that posties were hiding letters "very seriously", adding 92 % of letters were delivered on time.

Parliamentary scrutiny and corporate response

March also saw Royal Mail bosses answer questions from MPs about the ongoing postal delays. Royal Mail's owner, Daniel Křetínský, admitted the service was not perfect but said he had a plan to fix the situation.

That came after the chair of the Business and Trade Committee, Liam Byrne, said he was "very concerned" over reports of "significant failures" in Royal Mail's letter service.

In February, the committee wrote to Royal Mail asking for commitments to improve what it described as "chaos" in some postal areas since Christmas.

Historical context of stamp pricing

When the first‑class stamp price was first set at 64 p a decade ago, the postal landscape was markedly different. The volume of handwritten correspondence was higher, and the cost structures of the postal service reflected a greater reliance on physical mail.

Over the intervening ten years, digital communication has dramatically displaced traditional letter writing, leading Royal Mail to confront a shrinking revenue base. The decision to raise the first‑class stamp to £1.80 and the second‑class stamp to 91 p therefore mirrors broader industry trends that see postal operators worldwide adjusting prices to remain financially viable.

Despite the upward pressure on prices, the core promise of a next‑day delivery for first‑class letters remains a contractual expectation for consumers and businesses alike. The gap between the 77 % actual delivery rate and the 93 % target therefore continues to fuel public debate.

Impact on businesses and everyday users

Small‑to‑medium enterprises that rely on postage for invoicing, marketing, and customer communication are now required to allocate an additional 10 p per first‑class item. For businesses that send hundreds of letters each week, the cumulative effect of the price rise can translate into a noticeable increase in operating costs.

Consumers writing personal letters also feel the impact. While many individuals have shifted to electronic messaging, a segment of the population continues to value the tactile experience of a handwritten note. For these users, the new £1.80 price tag represents a tangible cost increase that may influence future mailing habits.

Both businesses and individual customers have expressed concern that the price increase is being implemented at a time when Royal Mail is not meeting its own service standards. The sentiment is echoed in statements from consumer advocacy groups, which argue that price adjustments should be linked to measurable improvements in delivery performance.

Future outlook and potential reforms

Royal Mail's owner, Daniel Křetínský, has indicated that a strategic plan is underway to address the service shortfalls that have prompted parliamentary scrutiny. The plan reportedly includes investments in sorting technology, enhancements to route optimisation, and a renewed focus on employee training.

Richard Travers, Royal Mail's managing director of letters, has reiterated that any further price alterations will continue to be weighed against the operational cost trajectory and the need to sustain a reliable service for the public.

Meanwhile, the Business and Trade Committee, chaired by Liam Byrne, expects Royal Mail to provide regular updates on progress toward meeting the 93 % delivery target. The committee has indicated that it will monitor compliance closely and may issue further recommendations if performance does not improve.

The charity Citizens Advice remains vocal about tying future price changes to demonstrable improvements in service levels. Citizens Advice has called for a transparent framework that links stamp price adjustments directly to delivery performance metrics.