French La Poste will raise its prices by an average of 3 per cent from January next year tomaintain a high service quality with stamps for ‘green‘ and priority letters rising 3 per cent on
average by 3 cents respectively.With effect from 2014, the prices for green letters will thus rise from €0.58 to €0.61 whilepriority mail will cost €0.66 instead of the current €0.63.
The green letter, which is delivered within 48 hours, is a more economical and ecological optionas it doesn’t require air transport within France. Demand from consumers is strong with over 60million green mail letters distributed every month. La Poste claimed it is currently the most used,fast shipping product, and enables senders to save 5 cents per standard letter.
The price for online letters will remain the same for the second year in a row at €0.99 forprinting and sending one page. The product allows everyone to send a letter via the internet to LaPoste until 7 pm for physical delivery the next day by a postman.
The postal operator highlighted the minimal impact of the stamp price increase on householdswith an average of an additional €1 per year for each household. A French household sends anaverage of 50 letters per year with an average budget of €30.
Business mail rates will rise 1.8 per cent for clients shipping large quantities. The tariff of ‘ Destineo esprit libre’ chosen by small and medium sized enterprises will not change to furthercompetitiveness in a difficult economic environment, La Poste said.
These price adjustments are within the price cap stipulated by the French Regulation Authorityof Electronic Communication and Post (ARCEP).
