The price of a UK first class postage stamp will rocket from 46p to 60p from the 30th of April after price controls are relaxed by Ofcom.
Ofcom has now given the UK postage company Royal Mail freedom to control the price of first class postage and business mail services after claims that the UK’s postal service was at severe risk if controls weren’t relaxed.
Second class stamps will be capped to 55p for the next seven years but the price is already going up from 36p to 50p.
Moya Greene, chief executive of Royal Mail said: “We know how hard it is for households and businesses when our economy is as tough as it is now. No-one likes to raise prices in the current economic climate but, regretfully, we have no option.”
“Royal Mail provides one of the highest quality postal services inEuropefor among the lowest prices for both consumers and business.”
Royal Mail also said that the cost of posting Christmas cards in 2012 will be the same as last year for consumers on Pension Credit and Employment and Support Allowance or Incapacity Benefit. These people will be able to buy three books of stamps (36 stamps in total) in one purchase from any Post Office from the 6th of November until the last posting dates before Christmas but evidence of these benefits must be provided.