Amazon Prime to raise annual membership fees across Europe

Amazon Prime is increasing its annual membership fees across Europe and the UK in response to rising costs. The revised rates will be effective from September.

As a result, Amazon Prime customers in the UK and Ireland will have to pay £8.99 per month, an increase of around 20%.

The new increase will see UK Prime customers pay £95 (previously £79) for an annual subscription. Customers in Ireland will also have to pay the same amount.

In Germany, the online retailer has increased its fees by 30 percent. France saw the largest rate hike, with a 43 percent increase.

A company spokesperson said that it is the first time since 2014 that Amazon Prime is increasing its price in the UK. Amazon raised fees in the United States in February and is now being forced to do the same in Europe as inflation rises and a downturn looms.