Deutsche Post confirms, domestic letter rates unchanged in 2012
Deutsche Post confirmed today that postal rates for letters and cards within Germany and sent to international destinations will remain unchanged in 2012. Back in October, German regulators set a very tight price cap for the country’s universal postal service provider for the coming two years, based on assessments of inflation and Deutsche Post’s productivity growth.
At the time, Deutsche Post suggested the scope allowed to increase postal rates did not justify the cost of printing new stamps and resetting postal retail machines.
Today, the company confirmed that regulators at the Federal Network Agency have approved its proposal to keep rates the same next year for letters, postcards and documents.
In a statement, Deutsche Post said: “After a price reduction in 2003, customers purchasing postage for standard letters can get the same high quality at the usual price of 55 cents in 2012, the tenth year in a row.
“The prices for other letter mail products such as postcards, Kompakbrief items, Grossbrief items and Maxibrief items will also remain the same.”
FedEx
Over in the United States, FedEx is set to reveal details of its ground shipping rates in 2012 on December 9. The company said its rates for FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery would rise by a net average of 4.9% from January 2, matching the price rise planned by rival UPS for its ground services.
Base rates for the ground services will rise 5.9%, but will be partially offset by a percentage point decrease in the fuel surcharge. FedEx SmartPost rates are also set to change.
FedEx announced back in September that its FedEx Express prices will rise by a net average of 3.9% for US domestic, US export and import services, from January 2. FedEx Freight adopted a 6.75% general rate rise back on September 6.
DHL Express is also increasing its US international prices by a net 3.9% amount, with a 5.9% rise offset by two-point reduction in fuel surcharges. UPS is increasing its air and international service prices by a net 4.9%, with a base 6.9% rise offset by two-point cut in fuel surcharges.
