The Baseline Year is a 12-month period we use to measure Royal Mail’s national posting profile, from which we then set the National Spread Benchmark and Urban Density Benchmark for National Price Plan One. The current Baseline Year is 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016.

In line with our commitment made to you in February, with effect from 1 April 2020, we are updating the Baseline Year to 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020.  Additionally, with the significant increase in barcoding levels over the past few years, we will use Mailmark data, to determine the Royal Mail profile, providing even greater assurance on accuracy.

Access Letters Contract Change Notice 063, which you can find on our Contracts page, gives effect to this change.

If you have any queries relating to the change to the Baseline Year, please contact your Account Director.