Royal Mail caps shops' stamp supply © Reuters/Phil Noble Royal Mail has imposed a cap on the number of stamps every shop can buy to ensure it benefits from price rises later this month. The price of first-class stamps will increase from 46p to 60p and second class from 36p to 50p from April 30. The postal service has capped supplies to 20 per cent of each retailer's annual allocation in a bid to "protect revenue" and prevent shops stockpiling and cashing in on the higher prices. Royal Mail spokesman James Eadie said the revenue from the increase was needed to maintain the six-day postal service. "We do have a sensible allocation in place so that individual retailers can pre-order in advance of the price rise, based on their normal full year expectations of demand," he said. These allocations are in place for all retailers so we can balance the customer demand with the need to protect Royal Mail's revenues. This is a prudent and appropriate policy.