Comparison of pricing - providers of Universal Postal Service in the European Union (2011)

This study compares the prices of the most popular postal services comprising the universal postal service, as charged by universal service providers in each of the Member States of the European Union (EU) in 2011, and their evolution since 2008.

The study also includes national prices for sending newspapers and periodicals, with the research behind the study complemented by a survey of the European Regulators Group for Postal Services (ERGP).

The compiled data leads to the conclusion that, compared to 2010, in local currency and for the set of services being examined, thirteen countries have not changed the prices studied while six countries have increased pricing for all services offered.

In Portugal, the prices of postal services have remained unchanged and, as in previous years, with the exception of non-priority intra-community mail, all prices remain below the EU average. When an analysis is made based on purchasing power parity (PPP), it can be seen that all prices in Portugal remain below the European average.

In relation to newspapers, the prices in Portugal are around 34 percent below the average of the 20 countries analysed, both in terms of comparisons in euros and in terms of PPP.

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