Martin Lewis urges households to stock up on common £1.65 item before April

Martin Lewis has called out to the public to “stock up” on stamps in anticipation of yet another price increase by Royal Mail slated to take effect from April 7. From this date, the cost of a standard first-class stamp will jump from £1.65 to £1.70, while that for a large first-class stamp will soar from £2.60 to £3.15.

The price of a standard second-class stamp will inch up from 85p to 87p, although the price of a large second-class stamp will hold steady at £1.55. Charges for other Royal Mail offerings like “Signed For” and “Tracked” deliveries are set to climb as well come April 7.

Consumers can dodge these hikes for now by snapping up stamps before prices escalate. Martin Lewis, the money-saving expert, remarked: “For years, every time stamps go up in price I’ve suggested people stock up and bulk-buy in advance, as provided the stamp doesn’t have a price on it and instead just says the postage class, it’s still valid after the rise.”

He further explained: “This has been an effective tactic, as a first-class letter stamp is now £1.65, soon rising to £1.70 – in 2012 it was just 60p. So while it’s not a huge saving this time, you still may as well stock up now.”

Last year there were two increases in the price for first-class stamps, occurring in October 2024 and April 2024, reports the Mirror. Royal Mail attributes the latest price hike to a decline in letter deliveries.

According to Nick Landon, Royal Mail’s chief commercial officer: “We always consider price changes very carefully but the cost of delivering mail continues to increase. A complex and extensive network of trucks, planes and 85,000 posties is needed to ensure we can deliver across the country for just 87p.”

This development follows Ofcom’s proposal for Royal Mail to discontinue Saturday deliveries of second-class letters and reduce the service to alternate weekdays. First-class post, however, would still be delivered from Monday to Saturday. Ofcom notes that letter deliveries to UK homes have drastically decreased from 20 billion twenty years ago to 6.6 billion today.

Royal Mail predicts this number will further decline to 4 billion annually in the coming years. According to Ofcom, reducing the frequency of second-class deliveries could save Royal Mail between £250 million and £425 million. Nevertheless, the regulator has cautioned Royal Mail to enhance its service quality.

Over the past 18 months, Royal Mail has incurred fines exceeding £16 million due to subpar performance and failure to meet delivery targets. Ofcom is considering revising the delivery targets for first-class mail from 93 per cent to 90 per cent for next-day delivery, and for second-class mail from 98.5 per cent to 95 per cent for delivery within three days.

This move will align Royal Mail more closely with international and European markets, the company has commented. Ofcom is currently holding a consultation on these proposed changes and anticipates releasing its definitive decision in the summer.

Natalie Black, Ofcom’s Group Director for Networks and Communications, said: “The world has changed – we’re sending a third of the letters we were twenty years ago. We need to reform the postal service to protect its future and ensure it delivers for the whole of the UK. But we’re safeguarding what matters most to people – First Class mail six days a week at the same price throughout the UK, and a price cap on Second Class stamps.”

Royal Mail’s CEO, Emma Gilthorpe, remarked: “Ofcom has recognised the urgent need for change so that the future of the Universal Service can be protected for all. Our proposal was developed after speaking to thousands of people across the country and is designed to preserve what matters most for our customers – maintaining a one-price-goes-anywhere service to 32 million UK addresses and First Class deliveries six days a week.”

She added: “As Ofcom’s analysis shows, it is no longer financially sustainable to maintain a network built for 20 billion letters when we are now only delivering 6.7 billion. Reform is crucial to support a modern, sustainable, and reliable postal service for our customers, our company and our people.”

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