US postage rates set for 1.7% increase from Sunday

The US Postal Service is set to raise its prices on some of its mail services for the first time in nearly two years. The rate rises do not affect Express Mail or Priority Mail, and will leave a basic one-ounce First Class Mail letter costing 44-cents.

Most of the changes are for commercial mail categories, including for First Class Mail, Standard Mail, periodicals, package services and other services.

Price rises across all mail classes fall in line with the legally-set annual cap on postal rate rises, a 1.7% increase as determined by the US inflation rate.

However, within that 1.7% cap, individual services can vary by more than the 1.7% increase.

The US Postal Service, which is predicted to make a $6.4bn loss this financial year, believes the April 17 rate increases will bring $340m in additional revenues this fiscal year, and $720m for a full 12 months.

“Postal Service products and services offer a great value to the American public,” said Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe. “For a very affordable price, you can send letters, bill payments, packages, and other mail across town or across the nation.”

Retail

The major changes for retail customers will include a three-cent rise in First Class Mail additional ounces (to 20c per ounce), a one-cent rise for First Class Mail postcards (to 29c) with stamped postcards going up to 32c, and a rise for letters or postcards bound for Canada and Mexico to 80c.

Letters and postcards to other international destinations remain the same 98c rate.

Commercial

On the commercial side, some of the biggest price increases include a 5.3% increase in First Class Mail flats prices, a 4% rise in international First Class mail, a 3.8% increase in First Class parcels and a sizeable 11.3% price rise for Standard Mail parcels.

Rates for First Class presort letters and cards, Standard Mail letters, outside county periodicals, single-piece Parcel Post and Certified Mail rise by 1.8%.

Other increases are generally under the 1.7% cap level, although Bound Printed Matter parcels and Media Mail/Library Mail rates rise by 2%, while PO Box rates rise 2.2%.

Non-machinable surcharges remain at 20c, while delivery confirmation prices also remain as they were.

• Details of full USPS price changes, effective April 17, are available here >>