Coming in the post: stamp prices in france set to rise

LA POSTE SAID INFLATION AND THE FALLING USE OF ITS SERVICES WERE AMONG THE REASONS FOR THE PRICE INCREASES France’s national post service _La Poste_ has announced stamp prices will rise from

next year. They will go up on average by 8.3%. The biggest increase will be reserved for the timbre vert, which will rise by 11.2%. _La Poste_ said the changes come “against a backdrop of

inflation and falling mail volumes”, with fewer people using their services. The organisation claimed the rises would “ensure the long-term viability of the universal postal service, with a

high level of quality”. It added the rises would have “no impact on household budgets” and claimed the average annual household spend on using the service – 0.1% – would not change. CHANGES

FROM NEXT YEAR The prices have already been announced, but the actual costs of the stamps will not change until January 1, 2024. Below is a list of changed prices: * The timbre vert or green

stamp will go from €1.16 to €1.29 * The Lettre services plus (turquoise stamp) will increase from €2.95 to €2.99 * A Lettre recommandée (recorded delivery letter) will jump from €4.83 to

€5.36 * The tariff for sending letters to international destinations weighing between 0.1 and 20g will increase from €1.80 to €1.96 – this is the same regardless of whether it is the EU or

the rest of the world. * The cost of sending a Colissimo package weighing less than 250g will increase from €4.95 to €4.99 The e-stamp (_e-lettre rouge_) at €1.49 and the sticker to track

mail (_suivi_) at €0.50 will remain unchanged. In the announcement, La Poste highlighted in particular Colissimo packages and green stamps as being two products whose prices had not changed

in a number of years despite Covid and inflation. WIDER REFORMATION The scheduled changes are part of _La Poste_’s effort to restructure the service, increasing its presence in rural areas

and relying on online services in larger population areas. It is part of the 2023 _Contrat de présence postale territorial_, signed between_ La Poste, l'association des Maires de

France_ (AMF) and the French state. The contract – which covers the years 2023 - 2025 – aims to continue the postal service’s modernisation and help it find its place within the 21st

century. Other changes included as part of the contract will see up to 1,000 post offices in rural areas increase their opening hours, including on Saturdays and market days. Despite

attempts to increase their online presence, the new e-stamp, which replaced the traditional timbre rouge at the beginning of this year, has seen a slow uptake. CONTINUE READING BOOST FOR

RURAL FRANCE AS 1,000 POST OFFICES TO EXPAND OPENING HOURS HOW TO USE FRENCH POST OFFICE’S NEW ONLINE IDENTITY SYSTEM