Royal Mail has announced that stamp prices will rise again next month, with first-class stamps increasing by 5p to £1.70 from April 7.
Furthermore, the price of second-class stamps will also see a price hike, going up by 2p to 87p on the same date.
This marks the latest in a series of yearly price increases in UK stamps with the changes expected to affect millions of consumers and businesses who rely on Royal Mail's delivery network.
In its announcement, Royal Mail said the decision to increase prices carefully considered "balancing affordability with the increasing cost of delivering mail".
Charity Citizens Advice has criticised the move, describing the change as "yet another blow to consumers".
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Royal Mail is set to raise the price of stamps again
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The Greeting Card Association (GCA) has strongly criticised the price increase. Amanda Fergusson, CEO of the GCA, said: "Here we go again.
"Yet again Royal Mail is asking people to keep paying more, for less, demonstrating the urgency behind our call for MPs to investigate Ofcom and Royal Mail's plan to weaken the service."
She added: "Our members - and their customers know imminent plans to slash second-class services will leave them reliant on a first-class stamp at runaway prices."
"It's time for MPs to act they must make sure Royal Mail isn't given carte blanche to make the postal service less reliable and unaffordable."
Britons will pay more first and second class stampds
GETTYAccording to Royal Mail, the organisation has considers prices, balancing affordability with the increasing cost of delivering mail.
The postal service company came to this decision due letter volumes falling from 20 billion a year in 2004/5 to 6.7 billion in 2023/4.
Furthermore, Royal Mail estimates this number could drip to four billion annuallywithin the next four years.
On top of this, the number of addresses has risen by four million meaning the cost of each delivery continues to rise over the same period of time.
Nick Landon, the chief commercial officer at Royal Mail, went into detail over the decision-making process for this latest price increase.
He explained: "We always consider price changes very carefully but the cost of delivering mail continues to increase.
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Britons have been concerned about potential changes to Royal Mail delivery services in the near futureGETTY"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.
"Ofcom has recognised that reform is urgently needed to protect the one-price-goes-anywhere Universal Service which requires Royal Mail to deliver letters to around 32 million UK addresses six days a week.
"Reform will allow continued investment in the modernisation and transformation of the business to provide a more financially sustainable service."
