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A big price rise in two weeks has led Martin Lewis to suggest bulk buying (Image: ITV)
Martin Lewis has delivered an urgent warning to British households – urging them to stockpile an item set to surge by nearly 140%. Royal Mail has announced it will be raising stamp prices – marking the eighth increase since 2020.
From 6 April, Royal Mail will push the cost of 1st class stamps up to £1.80 whilst 2nd class stamps will reach 91p. Back in 2020, a 1st class stamp cost just 76p. From 7 April 2026, consumers will need to shell out £1.80 (a 10p rise), representing a 137% jump over six years. Citizens Advice has confirmed that since 2020, 1st class stamp prices have climbed eight times.
Numerous Royal Mail services including ‘Signed For’, ‘Special Delivery Guaranteed’ and ‘Tracked’ options will also see price hikes from Tuesday 7 April, alongside increased costs for sending first and second class parcels. See a full list of prices.
In an update this week, personal finance guru Martin Lewis advised consumers to purchase stamps immediately and build up supplies before the increase, as they’ll remain valid for future use. He said: “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.
“This has been an effective tactic, as a first-class letter stamp is now £1.70, soon rising to £1.80 – in 2012 it was just 60p. So you may as well stock up now if you’re going to need stamps.” Royal Mail last achieved an annual delivery target during the 2019-2020 financial year. This week, MPs accused Royal Mail of “lying” about its performance and “pretending” not to prioritise parcels over letters.
The criticism emerges alongside growing concerns that Royal Mail is failing to meet Ofcom standards for delivery punctuality, potentially resulting in millions of letters arriving late.
Labour MP Dave Robertson said constituents in his area are “sick of being lied to by Royal Mail”. The Lichfield MP stated on Wednesday: “I met Royal Mail just before Christmas to complain to them about the total lack of a postal service that we have in Lichfield. We were probably the worst area in the country at that point.
“I was told when I had that meeting that all of the first class mail went out that week. That is a lie, it is an absolute lie, because my constituents told me. Royal Mail clearly don’t have a handle on this – they are either not measuring their performance or they are covering up their performance.”
Anne Pardoe, Head of Policy at Citizens Advice, said: “The price of 1st and 2nd class 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.
“Things only risk getting worse when cuts to delivery days and reduced performance targets come into full effect. Against this backdrop, Ofcom simply cannot wave through these increases any longer. Higher prices must come with higher standards – increases should be tied to Royal Mail’s performance on the doorstep.”
Richard Travers, managing director of letters at Royal Mail said: “We always consider price changes very carefully, balancing affordability with the rising cost of delivering mail. On average, UK adults now spend just £6.50 each year on stamps and there are 70% fewer letters sent than 20 years ago. In the meantime, the number of addresses we deliver to has increased by four million to 32 million addresses across the UK.”
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