The US Postal Service has announced price rises on domestic and international mail services,with the price of sending international letters increasing by more than 7%.
From 22 January, letters to Canada or Mexico weighing up to 1 oz. (27 grammes) will see a 5-centincrease to 85 cents, while letters to other international destinations will get a 7-cent increaseto $1.05. The price for domestic first-class letters weighing up to 1 oz. will increase by 1-centto 45 cents, while postcards will receive a 3-cent increase to 32 cents.
USPS said the price changes, filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission yesterday, included thefirst price change for first-class mail stamps in more than two and a half years. Prices also willchange for other mailing services, including Standard Mail, Periodicals, Package Services and ExtraServices, although today’s announcement does not affect Express Mail and Priority Mail prices.
Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said: “The overall average price increase is small and isneeded to help address our current financial crisis. We continue to take actions within our controlto increase revenue in other ways and to aggressively cut costs. To return to sound financialfooting we urgently need enactment of comprehensive, long-term legislation to provide the PostalService with a more flexible business model.”
While actual percentage price increases for various products and services varies, the overallaverage price increase across all mailing services is capped by law at 2.1%, the rate of inflationcalculated based on the Consumer Price Index.
USPS said that for business mailers, today’s announcement offered good news for first-class mailpre-sort mailers, because, when the new prices go into effect on 22 January, the second ounce forpre-sorted letters will be free.
“This gives companies expanded opportunities to advertise new services and products to theircustomers as part of bill and statement mailings,” said Paul Vogel, president and chief marketingand sales officer.
