An Post is increasing the price of a standard stamp for the second time in just under a year.
Bad news for all the philatelists and letter writers out there as An Post has announced yet another increase in the price of a stamp, which will come into effect from 1st February.
The price of a stamp for a standard letter or postcard will increase by 10 cent to €1.35, or by 8%.
The price increase comes at a time of rapid inflation, which is currently at a near record high of 8.9%.
An Post only raised the price of a stamp by 15 cent last March.
However the cost of sending a standard international letter will remain at €2.20 while its recently launched digital stamp remains at €2.
An Post claims the cost of postage here is still below the European average, especially when adjusted for income levels. It says the average price of a national stamp across 14 European Union countries and the UK is €1.69, while the comparable worldwide price is well over €2.
The price of ten-stamp booklets will also increase from €11 to €13.00 (€1.30 per stamp), while a 100-stamp roll will work out at €1.25 per stamp. But SMEs can avail of a €1.20 national stamp price through the An Post Advantage Card - a discount of 11%
| An Post stamp price | May 2020 | May 2021 | March 2022 | February 2023 |
| Standard | €1.00 | €1.10 | €1.25 | €1.35 |
| International | €1.70 | €2.00 | €2.20 | €2.20 |
| Digital | N/A | N/A | €2.00 | €2.00 |
Why the increase?
Up until May 2020, An Post hadn't increased the price of a stamp for around four years.
However extra costs incurred due to the Covid pandemic, and now sharp cost inflation across transport, fuel and energy, which An Post says is increasing the cost of providing national and international postal services, has led to the latest price increase.
However, Garrett Bridgeman, Managing Director of An Post Commerce said:
“There has been very significant input cost inflation across our business, most particularly in fuel at 25% this past year, and energy at more than 60%. We have made every effort to minimise the necessary price increases by spreading them across our products and services while working to ensure top quality, sustainable services for all customers, regardless of where they live.
An Post also says its service is consistently rated amongst the best in Europe and unlike many other postal companies, which suspended services during the pandemic, An Post maintained services throughout, supporting both personal and business customers.
What's more, An Post’s Community Focus supports, including free postage to and from nursing homes, and free newspaper delivery for older customers, will remain for 2023, while ‘Check-Ins’ by postal delivery staff on older, vulnerable or isolated customers living alone are now a standard part of An Post’s service nationally.
Will older stamps still be accepted?
Yes.
Any existing National ‘N’ rate stamps will automatically represent the new €1.35 postage rate while Worldwide ‘W’ stamps still cover the €2.20 international letter rate.
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