Priority mail and non priority mail - Portuguese postal service prices below the European average

The prices practised in Portugal for the non priority mail and priority mail services are below the average in the European Union, concludes a study on the Evolution of postal services prices prepared by the Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações (ANACOM). The same analysis observes that, over the last ten years, the prices collected in Portugal by the non priority mail and priority mail services fell in overall terms.

According to the study, and taking into account the data gathered in March 2002, the global price of the non priority mail service is 31.9% lower in Portugal than the average in the European Union. The global price of the priority mail service is, in turn, 7.9% lower in Portugal than the average in the European Union. Both figures relate to standard format letters up to 20 grams for national service.

As far as the international service is concerned, the price practised in Portugal is 1% below the average of the Fifteen member countries when the destination is the European Union, 6.1% below when the destination is the rest of Europe and 13.3% below when the destination is the rest of the world. The data revealed through these figures relate to March 2002, to standard format letter up to 20 grams and to the non priority mail service.

Isolating the prices practised in Portugal and the same being subject to an evolution analysis, we realise that there is a real decrease in the tariffs practised between 1992 and 2002. In ten years, the prices fell 23.2% for priority mail and 3.6% for the non priority mail, in overall terms. Aggregating both post services in one basket only, we realise that over the last ten years, the practised tariffs decreased 5.1%, in overall terms. All figures relate to average prices.

Consult:

Evolution of Postal Services Prices: Non Priority Mail and Priority Mail - 1989-2002 http://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=926159