Royal Mail today informed us of their new prices, due to take effect from Monday 2nd April 2007…

Here are some of the main changes that may affect you:

• First Class stamp prices will increase by 2p to 34p for the Letter format, by 4p to 48p for the Large Letter format and by 9p to 109p for the Packet format at the basic weight step (0-100g)
  
• Second Class stamp prices will increase by 1p to 24p for the Letter format, by 3p to 40p for the Large Letter format and by 8p to 92p for the Packet format at the basic weight step (0-100g)
  
• First and Second Class prices for Stamp, Franking and Account items above 1kg will decrease significantly
  
• New discount services Cleanmail® Advance and Automated Standard Tariff Large Letter are introduced - rewarding your machineable Letter and Large Letter mail
  
• Enhanced volume-related discounts for Mailsort®, offering an increased number of volume thresholds which vary by format
  
• Mailsort® 3 machineable mail becomes more attractive, with below inflation price increases
  New discounts on Airmail services for our Franking and Account customers.

Royal Mail’s quality of service to customers is at its highest level ever. Between July and September 2006, 94.5% of all First Class Stamped and Franked mail sent in the UK arrived the next working day after posting*. This is their best performance of any quarter on record and exceeds the 93% national target set by industry regulator, Postcomm.

"These new tariffs are part of our continued effort to improve our service to all our customers allowing us to invest in our people, our products and our services."
Mark Thomson, Director, Sales and Customer Service

*Source: Letter from Mark Thomson, Director, Sales and Customer Service