Postage rates to increase next month, by less than rate of inflation

11 January 2024

Next-Day Service in Ireland now cheaper than in UK or France, and below EU average price

• National stamp will increase by 5c to €1.40 (3.7%) – below CPI inflation of 3.9%*
• No increase in the International Letter stamp (€2.20) or the Digital Stamp (€2.00) Input costs (transport, fuel, energy) increased by 6% in 2023
• Stamp discounts continue for SMEs and personal customers

11^th January, 2024: The price of the standard national stamp will increase by 5c to €1.40 on Thursday, 1^st February, resulting in a 3.7% increase which is below the latest published CPI rate of inflation of 3.9% (Nov 2023).   While some other rates such as those for large envelopes and Registered Post will also increase, there will be no change to the price of either the International Letter stamp (€2.20) or the national Digital Stamp (€2).

An Post’s standard stamp price remains well below the average European tariff for a comparable quality next-day letter service.  The average price of a comparable national stamp across the principal EU14 (+ UK) countries is now €1.73, while like-for-like letter services now cost €1.45 in the United Kingdom and €1.47 in France, our nearest EU neighbour.   

An Post is committed to providing a top quality, sustainable, next-day service to the door for all customers despite an increasing number of European countries reducing letter delivery quality or frequency to just once or twice a week due to falling letter volumes.

Conscious of the impact on personal customers who regularly send mail, the price of ten-stamp booklets will be €13.50 (€1.35 per stamp), while a box of 100 stamps will work out at €1.30 per stamp (a 10c reduction per stamp).  SMEs can avail of a €1.25 national stamp price through the An Post Advantage Card - a discount of 11%. An Post will also continue its popular stamp promotions in post offices and online.  For example, customers can save €2 on a booklet of ten Love Stamps from 5^th - 18^th February, with a reduced price of €12 instead of €14. 

The new stamp prices reflect sustained transport, fuel and energy cost inflation (6% in 2023) and will ensure the continuity of national letter services based on customers paying the same price for delivery of letters nationwide, regardless of distance.

Garrett Bridgeman, Managing Director of An Post Commerce said: “We have made every effort to minimise the necessary price increases by spreading them across letter products and services while ensuring top quality, sustainable services for all customers, wherever they live. 

An Post’s quality of service is amongst the highest in Europe while our prices remain well below the average tariff.  For the first time ever, our comparable domestic tariffs are below those of the United Kingdom.  We’re pleased to leave our Digital and International stamp rates unchanged, and we’re very excited to be launching our new International Digital Stamp later this month.  Through innovation like this and the continued expansion of our electric fleet, we will protect our customers and support Irish firms doing business at home and across the globe, while ensuring safe, decent work and working conditions for our staff”, he said.

“These increases are necessary to cover rising costs and ensure service continuity and innovation on par with the best in Europe. We’re alleviating the impact on SMEs and personal customers by providing discounts and regular price promotions through the year at post offices and online. I’m also pleased to confirm that An Post’s Community Focus supports including free postage up to 1kg to all nursing and care homes and free newspaper delivery for older customers will continue throughout 2024”, he added.

All existing stamps with ‘N’ (National) and ‘W’ (Worldwide) or specific euro denominations remain valid and fully useable after 1^st February. 

* Inflation figures based on the latest published increase in Consumer Price Index (CPI) – previous 12 months to November 2023 at 3.9%.  

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