UK regulator Ofcom has confirmed that the second class stamp price cap will be extended for another year, keeping the current 91p cost “flat” in real terms until March 2028. The existing cap, set in 2024 and pegged to inflation, expires in March, and Ofcom is proposing a one-year extension while Royal Mail implements universal service reforms and improves delivery performance, which it called unacceptable in recent years. Ofcom plans to consult on its long-term pricing approach next year, once the impact of the reforms is clearer. It warned that fewer letters being sent has raised Royal Mail's cost per letter, so urgent reform is needed for the universal service to survive, even though UK stamp prices are low by international standards.
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Original headline: Royal Mail cost of second class stamp confirmed until March 2028
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- Royal Mail cost of second class stamp confirmed until March 2028
Ofcom has proposed extending the price cap on second-class stamps, currently 91p, so the cost stays flat in real terms until March 2028. The existing cap, set in 2024 and pegged to inflation, expires in March, and the regulator wants a one-year extension while Royal Mail implements universal service reforms and improves delivery performance, which Ofcom described as unacceptable in recent years. Ofcom plans to consult on its long-term pricing approach next year, once it has a clearer picture of the reforms' impact. It said fewer letters are being sent, which raises Royal Mail's cost of delivering each letter, and that urgent reform is needed for the universal service to survive.
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