First and second-class stamps will rise by 2p to 41p and 32p respectively on 6 April 2010, the company said.
The move was expected, with regulator Postcomm announcing in September that it had given approval for stamp price increases in 2010.
Postcomm previously said Royal Mail needed the extra funding to compensate for the continuing decline in mail volumes.
Business mail
The price rises will affect standard letters weighing up to 100g. The increase is higher than inflation, but lower than the rise in April 2009.
The prices for ordinary meter and account mail, largely sent by small businesses, will not increase – remaining at 36p and 25p respectively for standard letters weighing up to 100g, Royal Mail said.
Stamp prices were still lower than the European average:
“Stamp prices remain affordable and represent excellent value for money. Royal Mail continues to offer consumers a more extensive, to-the-door, six-days-a-week service than many European countries and does so at a lower price than most other operators,” said Royal Mail’s Alex Smith.
“Small businesses who depend on Royal Mail’s services to fulfil their customers’ orders and to grow their businesses will be helped by our decision to hold prices for ordinary meter and account mail at today’s levels.”
He added that the move would affect around 12% of mail sent in the UK, and would add around 3p a week to the average UK household’s weekly 50p postage bill.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8426538.stm
For more information on postal increases, visit the Royal Mail website on: http://www.royalmail.com/
