Ten years ago, a first class stamp cost 64p while a second class stamp was 55p.
The jump in stamp prices over the past few years, together with Royal Mail’s poor delivery performance, has angered many consumer groups.
Last year, Royal Mail was fined £21m by the regulator Ofcom after it found almost a quarter of first-class post arrived late.
That followed an investigation by Ofcom after Royal Mail missed its targets for both first and second-class post in 2024-25.
Reacting to the latest rise in stamp prices, 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”.
“More than half a decade has gone by since the company met its delivery targets and people still face a gamble, with many uncertain if their important documents or letters like medical appointments will arrive on time,” she added.
“Higher prices must come with higher standards – increases should be tied to Royal Mail’s performance on the doorstep.”