Stamps will keep pace with inflation. La Poste announced this Thursday, July 27 the increase in their price, with an average increase of 8.3% by January 1, 2024. The green stamp, the price of which had not increased for two years , will rise by 11.20% to reach 1.29 euros, against 1.16 currently.
“In a context of inflation and falling mail volumes”, these increases should enable La Poste to “ensure (of) the sustainability of the universal postal service”, which notably guarantees delivery six days a week and affordable rates for the most common shipments, argued the public group.
Among other “tariff adjustments” detailed in a press release, the price of registered letters will be increased to 5.36 euros (up 53 cents), an increase of almost 11%, and that of international letters up to 20 grams to 1.96 euros (up 16 cents). The price of “services plus” letters, for “important documents requiring follow-up notifications”, will see a small increase of 4 cents, to 2.99 euros.
Colissimo prices for individuals, “all destinations combined”, will increase by an average of 5.6%, added La Poste, specifying that that of Colissimo France of less than 250 grams “will only experience a marginal adjustment” with an increase from 4 cents to 4.99 euros after remaining unchanged for five years.
Costs for business services, management industrial mail and direct marketing will increase by 6.8% and 5.2% respectively. Among the prices that do not change are those of mail tracking (at 50 cents) or the red e-letter, which in 2023 replaced the red stamp for urgent letters to be delivered the next day (1.49 euros ).
According to La Poste, each French household will spend an average of around 33 euros on postal products this year, compared to 37 euros in 2022, with spending expected to remain “stable” in 2024. The public group hopes to save up to 400 million euros thanks to this price increase to absorb part of the universal postal service deficit, a spokeswoman told AFP.
The Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications, Posts and Press Distribution (Arcep) has given the green light to these changes, according to La Poste.
