Tag: USPS

The Direct Marketing Association (The DMA) today applauded the announcement from the United States Postal Service (USPS) that it may be able to delay future postage rate increases until at least calendar year 2006. This action, however, depends on a change to the current legislative formula that controls how the USPS funds its employees’ retirement. The change to the law is required to ensure that the American mailing public does not overpay for postage.

US Postal rates are likely to remain the same for another four years, thanks to money freed up from a retirement fund that the Postal Service had been overpaying.

Rates for postage last went up in June, and postal officials said they didn’t expect another increase until 2004. But they stretched their estimate Tuesday after announcing details from a new financial review.

The U.S. Postal Service began a program in Albany, NY, last month in which letter carriers on business routes provide brochures and information about the agency’s Priority Mail and Express Mail services to its small-business customers.

The postal service plans to roll it out nationwide early next year.