Both first and second class stamps will go up 14p from April 30 to 60p and 50p respectively.  That’s a 30% rise for first class and 39% hike for second.  (Inflation was 3.4% last month according to the Consumer Prices index.)

With the number of letters posted every day down from 84million six years ago to 59million today, this is probably not the best idea they’ve ever had.  As people increasingly turn to alternative carriers and electronic communications, surely Royal Mail must realise their future is, at best, doubtful.

Today’s announcement by Ofcom that the Royal Mail now has the freedom to set their own prices is surely the natural progression towards full competition and privatisation of postal services where customers will pay more and efficiencies will be sought in the interests of profit not services.