The US Postal Service (USPS) has filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) of price changes to take effect on January 27, 2019.
The proposed prices, approved by the Governors of the Postal Service, would raise Mailing Services product prices by 2.5%, while shipping services price increases will vary by product.
For example, Priority Mail Express will increase 3.9% and Priority Mail will increase 5.9%. Although Mailing Services price increases are based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), Shipping Services prices are primarily adjusted according to market conditions. The Governors of the Postal Service believes these new rates will keep USPS competitive while providing the agency with needed revenue.
If favorably reviewed by the PRC, the new prices will include a US$0.05 (£0.04) increase in the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp, from US$0.50 (£0.38) to US$0.55 (£0.42). The single-piece additional ounce price will be reduced to US$0.15 (£0.11), so a two-ounce stamped letter, such as a typical wedding invitation, will cost less to mail, decreasing from US$0.71 (£0.54) to US$0.70 (£0.53).
First-Class Package Service, a lightweight expedited offering used primarily by businesses for fulfillment purposes, will move to zone-based pricing to better align with the cost of service and improve value based on distance.
According to USPS, it has some of the lowest letter mail postage rates in the industrialized world and offers a great value in shipping. The PRC will review the prices before they are scheduled to take effect on January 27, 2019.