Sunday, May 26, 2013
Register

Be Smart - 800-524-0380 Learn how you will save on postage
Software Updates Customer Support Products & Services


postal concierge weekly etips for mailers

Educational webinars to mail and ship with USPS

Postal Prices to Increase in January 2012


The United States Postal Service announced on October 18 their intention to increase postage on market dominant products an average of 2.133%, effective January 22, 2012. This increase is based on a price cap calculated by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) using Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, and will apply across each Mailing Services class of mail. 

Price Increases

The price increases vary by class and processing category and are as follows:

  • First-Class: overall increase 2.133%, with parcels getting the largest increase of 10.882%. Flats will see an increase of 1.605%, while presort letters and cards see an increase of 1.580%. International First-Class has an increase of 4.679%. The First-Class stamp will go to 45 cents.
  • Periodicals: Overall increase of 2.133%, with Outside County rates going up by 2.136%, while In-County rates increase by 2.054%.
  • Standard Mail: Overall increase of 2.124%, with High Density/Saturation Flats and Parcels receiving the largest increase at 2.878%. Flats see an increase of 2.209%, while letters go up 1.867%. Basic Carrier-route sorted letters, flats, and parcels see an increase of 2.425%. High-density and Saturation Carrier-route sorted letters have an increase of 2.298%, while Parcels see an increase of 2.864%.
  • Package Services: Overall increase of 2.133%. Single Piece Parcel Post will go up by 2.472%. Bound Printed Matter Flats increase by 0.504%, while BPM Parcels increase by 1.886%. Media Mail and Library Mail increases by 2.581%.

Mailers may access the rate filing document, including detailed rate charts, at the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) web site.

Classification Changes

The USPS also announced some classification changes necessary to implement the planned price adjustments, including (but not limited to):

  • Change the name of Not Flat Machineables (NFM's)/Parcels in Standard Mail to Parcels, specifically: Marketing Parcels, Nonprofit Machineable Parcels and Nonprofit Irregular Parcels.
  • The addition of Package Intercept service as an option for First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, and Package Services.
  • The addition of a Mixed ADC Periodicals Outside County price category.
  • Changing the maximum weight for Carrier Route letters.
  • Eliminating the Bound Printed Matter Parcels and Media/Library Mail barcode discounts.


Details of the classification changes can be accessed in the October 24, 2011 Federal Register notice. Mailers may comment on these proposed classification changes until November 23, 2011.

Other prices

Prices for other postal services, such as address corrections and various application fees also increase. Permit applications for First-Class, Standard Mail and Package Services Mail increase to $190.00, as does the annual mailing fee for these categories. Periodicals application fee goes to $550.00, with Additional Entry application fees set at $90.00.

Manual address corrections are set at 50 cents each, with Electronic corrections at 28 cents (details in table below).

postal, price, increase, 2012

Implementing Change

As always, Window Book works diligently to incorporate USPS changes into our software, once the changes are finalized. Stay tuned for future e-tips with continuing updates on the new rates and classification changes.

Don't miss out on our educational mailing webinars!
Log on to our webinar registration site to sign up.