1p rise for First and Second class basic UK postage on May 8

First and Second class basic postage prices will rise by 1p on Thursday, May 8, Royal Mail confirmed today.

The basic First Class stamp will rise to 28p and basic Second Class postage increases to 20p.

It will be the first increase in the basic First Class stamp since April 2000. The basic 19p Second Class stamp is currently at the same price as it was at the end of 1993.

Royal Mail had earlier this month said May 8 was the intended date for price rises to take effect. However, confirmation of the date has had to await today’s announcement from the postal regulator, Postcomm, on its three-year price control for Royal Mail.

Jerry Cope, Royal Mail’s Managing Director UK, said: “These price rises are modest. Basic First or Second class stamps carry mail to the UK’s 27 million addresses and a Royal Mail stamp is one of the best value things money can buy. Royal Mail’s prices have not kept pace with inflation in recent years and even with these increases, postage prices in the UK will still be among the very lowest in the EU.”

Ends

Notes to Editors
1. Basic First and Second Class postage covers letters weighing up to 60g. In addition to the 1p rise in basic postage prices, there will be increases for heavier items of First and Second class mail, and increases to a range of other services, including International mail, Special Delivery and Standard Parcels.
2. The price rise is expected to generate an additional £170 million of revenue for Royal Mail in a full year. The company is currently losing some £1 million a day and in the 2001/2002 financial year, it lost £318 million on its day-to-day operations.

www.royalmail.com