Royal Mail has announced that its stamp prices for first and second-class mail will be increasing in April 2010, rising to 41p and 32p respectively, a hike of 2p.

Any standard post weighing up to 100g will be affected and the plan is to be brought in April 6th, a jump that is higher than inflation but lower than that seen in April of this year.

Alex Smith of Royal Mail observed that the cost of stamps is still affordable and is "excellent value for money", having an impact on approximately 12 per cent of parcels and letters that are sent in the country.

Furthermore, the postal service noted that, even with these increases, prices in the UK are still below the average for Europe, the BBC reports.

However, postal expert with Consumer Focus Robert Hammond noted that this news will come as a disappointment to consumers, particularly after the recent strike action.

"Consumers can't keep on footing the bill regardless," he said. "Unless Royal Mail begin to deliver efficiencies through their modernisation programme and better industrial relations, then consumers will rightly start to lose patience."

Author:  Gillian Walters