Royal mail increase
The Royal Mail!
Yes, the Royal Mail, the UK's postal service, has increased its prices several times in recent years. Here are some of the key changes:
2022 Price Increases
In February 2022, Royal Mail announced a price increase for its services, effective from March 28, 2022. The increases ranged from 2% to 10% depending on the service and weight of the item.
Here are some examples of the price increases:
- 1st Class Mail (up to 100g): from £0.85 to £0.88 (3.5% increase)
- 1st Class Mail (101-100g): from £1.03 to £1.06 (3.4% increase)
- 2nd Class Mail (up to 100g): from £0.68 to £0.70 (2.9% increase)
- Special Delivery Guaranteed (up to 100g): from £6.75 to £7.00 (3.5% increase)
Previous Price Increases
In 2020, Royal Mail increased its prices by an average of 2.5% for its services. In 2019, prices increased by an average of 3.9%.
Why the Price Increases?
Royal Mail cites various reasons for the price increases, including:
- Inflation: The cost of living and doing business in the UK has increased, leading to higher costs for Royal Mail.
- Brexit: The uncertainty surrounding the UK's exit from the EU has led to increased costs and complexities for Royal Mail.
- Competition: Royal Mail faces competition from private courier services, which has driven up costs.
- Investment in Services: Royal Mail is investing in new services, such as parcel tracking and delivery updates, which require additional resources.
What Can You Do?
If you're concerned about the price increases, you can consider the following:
- Shop around: Compare prices with private courier services, such as Parcel Monkey or My Hermes.
- Use online postage: Consider using online postage services, such as Royal Mail's Click & Drop, to save time and money.
- Consolidate your mail: If you send multiple items, consider consolidating them into a single package to reduce costs.
- Use Royal Mail's discounts: Royal Mail offers discounts for bulk mail, charity mail, and other specific types of mail.