Communiqué de presse - Postal sector

Universal Postal Service

Arcep publishes its opinion on universal postal service prices for 2026


Arcep has issued its opinion on price changes in 2026 for mail and parcel delivery products that are part of the universal postal service.

First year of application for the multiannual price caps that Arcep set for 2026 – 2029

These changes correspond to the first year of application for the multiannual price caps that Arcep set for 2026 to 2029 it its Decision of 10 June 2025[1]. Regarding the deficit for the universal service mandate account, the decrease in mail and parcel volumes (down an  average 8.8%[2] per annum from 2018 to 2023) and the efforts that La Poste has been making for several years to streamline and reduce costs, this Decision caps the average annual price increase for the scope of the universal postal service for 2026 to 2029 at 7.5%. Moreover, increases must not exceed the threshold of 10% during any year in this period.

It is up to La Poste to decide on how its prices will change, within the parameters of this price cap.

La Poste planned price changes are within the caps set by Arcep

The average 7.4% price increase that La Poste has planned for 2026 falls within this price cap. The increase also differs depending on the product (personal and small business mail, business mail, relational mail, direct marketing, registered mail, universal service parcels, universal service press items and international mail).

Because of users’ changing habits, combined with increased prices, the cost to households of sending postal items that are part of the universal service is tending to decrease. As a result, households’ basket is expected to be equal to €25.92 in 2026 compared to a forecast of €27.71 in 2025[3].

 

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023[4]

2024

2025

2026

Personal and SME mail

10.1%

10.3%

10.0%

8.1%

 

9.8%

7.7%

9.9%

Business mail

7.0%

5.8%

5.2%

5.2%

 

10.4%

9.1%

9.6%

Relational mail

2.3%

3.5%

3.9%

4.2%

 

7.1%

6.1%

6.3%

Direct marketing

1.8%

1.1%

1.4%

2.3%

 

5.2%

4.2%

5.4%

Registered mail and insured mail

2.1%

1.6%

2.1%

3.6%

 

8.4%

6.1%

7.3%

Universal service parcels

1.4%

2.0%

3.9%

1.9%

 

5.6%

5.2%

3.4%

Other (US press, Services, International mail)

5.4%

6.1%

5.4%

5.9%

 

10.0%

7.1%

8.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Universal Service

5.0%

5.0%

5.1%[5]

4.9%

 

8.3%

6.8%

7.4%

Change in economic volume

-8.0%

-18.8%

-2.1%

-7.2%

-10.7%

-10.7%

-9.3%

-10.3%

Inflation

1.1%

0.5%

1.6%

5.9%

5.7%

2.3%[6]

1.0%6

1.4%6

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Associated documents

 

 


[2] Annual progression of physical volumes within the scope covered by price supervision

[3] At constant volumes, this will increase households’ basket to €29.82 in 2026.

[4] Because of changes to the universal postal service catalogue following La Poste’s introduction of a new line of mail products on 1 January 2023, prices in 2023 cannot be compared to those that were in force in 2019-2022: average price increases by product line as of 1 January 2023 are not listed in this table.

[5] Factoring in the price increase for overseas parcels introduced on 6 April 2021

[6] Source: Banque de France (June 2025)