Royal Mail Announces Stamp Price Hike as Czech Billionaire's Takeover Nears

First-class stamp prices will rise to £1.70 in April, marking the sixth increase in three years, while regulatory delays hold up Daniel Kretinsky's £3.6bn acquisition.

• Royal Mail will raise the cost of a first-class stamp by 5p to £1.70 and second-class stamps by 2p to 87p starting April 7, 2025.
• This marks the sixth price increase in three years, attributed to rising delivery costs and declining letter volumes, which have dropped from 20 billion to 6.7 billion annually since 2005.
• The UK Government has approved the £3.6bn takeover of Royal Mail by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, but the deal faces delays due to regulatory clearance in Romania.
• Ofcom is considering reforms to Royal Mail's universal service obligation, including reducing second-class deliveries to alternate weekdays and stopping Saturday deliveries.
• Critics, including Citizens Advice and the Greeting Card Association, have raised concerns over the impact of rising costs and reduced services on consumers and businesses.

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