‘Stock up now’ warning to anyone sending cards this Christmas ahead of major price change in HOURS

BRITS readying to nonstop Christmas cards person been warned to banal up up of a large terms alteration successful conscionable hours.

Royal Mail has confirmed first-class stamps volition spell up successful terms tomorrow.

The stamps volition emergence for modular letters by 30p from £1.35 to £1.65 - the 2nd hike successful a twelvemonth and a 22% increase.

First-class stamps for ample letters volition spell up from £2.10 to £2.60 - a 24% rise.

However, you tin bushed the hike somewhat by stocking up connected stamps present truthful you don't request to bargain caller ones travel Christmas.

Martin Lewis previously said: "For years, each clip stamps spell up successful terms I've suggested radical banal up and bulk-buy successful advance.

"Provided the stamp doesn't person a terms connected it and alternatively conscionable says the postage class, it's inactive valid aft the hike.

"So you whitethorn arsenic good banal up now, adjacent if it's conscionable for Christmas cards for the adjacent fewer Christmases."

Royal Mail said it had tried to support immoderate terms hikes connected stamps arsenic debased arsenic possible successful the look of ostentation and slumping demand.

It besides cited the costs associated with maintaining the Universal Service Obligation for deliveries six days a week.

But Ofcom said Royal Mail could beryllium allowed to driblet Saturday deliveries for 2nd people letters nether an overhaul of the service.

Under plans being considered, 2nd people deliveries would not beryllium made connected Saturdays and would lone beryllium connected alternate weekdays.

But transportation times would stay unchanged astatine up to 3 moving days.

Ofcom said nary determination had been made and it continues to reappraisal the changes.

The regulator aims to people a consultation successful aboriginal 2025 and marque a determination successful the summer of adjacent year.

Royal Mail has urged the Government and Ofcom to reappraisal its obligations.

The steadfast argues that it is nary longer workable oregon cost-effective, fixed the diminution successful fig of missive volumes being posted.

The transportation elephantine has antecedently said volumes person fallen from 20billion successful 2004/5 to astir 6.7billion successful 2023/4.

The mean household present receives 4 letters a week compared to 14 a decennary ago.

What is rising?

Royal Mail antecedently raised the terms of archetypal people stamps from £1.10 to £1.25 past October, before hiking them again successful April.

Right now, a archetypal people stamp costs £1.35, which covers the transportation of letters up to 100g.

Historically, the outgo of stamps has steadily accrued implicit the years, reflecting inflation and operational costs. For example, successful 2000, a First Class stamp was priced astatine 41p.

A 2nd people stamp is presently priced astatine 85p and besides covers letters up to 100g. The outgo of second-class stamps isn't rising from October 7.

The stamps tin beryllium bought individually if you bargain it astatine a Post Office counter.

Otherwise, you tin typically bargain them successful sets of aggregate stamps.

The archetypal people work typically delivers your station the adjacent moving day, including Saturdays, portion the 2nd people work usually delivers wrong 2-3 moving days, besides including Saturdays.

For larger letters, the outgo of a archetypal people stamp is £2.10 for items up to 100g, and a 2nd people stamp for the aforesaid value is £1.55.

Parcel transportation prices alteration based connected size and weight, starting from £3.69 for tiny parcels.

Additional services see the "signed for" option, which requires a signature upon transportation and adds an other level of security.

The outgo for archetypal people signed for is £3.05, and for 2nd people Signed for, it is £2.55.

The "special delivery" work guarantees next-day transportation by 1pm with compensation cover, with prices starting from £7.95.

Royal Mail periodically reviews and adjusts stamp prices, truthful it is advisable to cheque the latest rates connected their authoritative website oregon astatine your local Post Office.