New Postage Rates in effect
First Class Mail Highlights
- Letters (1 oz.) – 1-cent increase to 45 cents. This is the first increase in the price of a First-Class Mail stamp since May 2009.
- Single-piece letters additional ounce rate – unchanged at 20 cents.
- Postcards – 3-cent increase to 32 cents
- Letters to Canada or Mexico (1 oz.) – 5-cent increase to 85 cents
- Letters to other international destinations – 7-cent increase to $1.05
- The second ounce will be free for First-Class Mail Presort pieces weighing between one and two ounces.
Additional Price Adjustment Highlights:
- The price increase for Standard Mail Letters is slightly below the overall average at less than 1.9 percent
- A new 3-month pricing option will be available to rent PO Boxes for people on the move and others that need a PO Box for a shorter time period.
- Delivery Confirmation will be free for several parcel products as the Postal Service continues to make tracking an integral component of parcels mailed at commercial rates.
Percentage of Price Change by Mail Class
| Class | Percent Change |
|---|---|
| First-Class Mail | 2.133% |
| Standard Mail | 2.124% |
| Periodicals | 2.133% |
| Package Services | 2.133% |
USPS to offer credit billing to direct mailers
Washington, D.C.—The U.S. Postal Service has been granted permission to allow postage credit billing to direct mailers rather than requiring postage prepayment.
In a decision this week, the Postal Regulatory Commission granted the USPS’ request that it provide credit lines to direct mailers that enter into a negotiated service agreement with it, giving them the ability to pay postage via Automated Clearing House (online) methods. Currently, direct mailers pay upfront into an account for anticipated postage.
The Direct Marketing Association praised the decision. In a statement, DMA said, “By allowing credit billing rather than prepayment of postage, USPS enters the ‘real world of commerce.’ ” DMA has urged the PRC to expand the ruling to all direct mailers, not just large mailers with negotiated service agreements.
New USPS Booklet Sealing Requirements
On September 8th, new U.S. Postal Service regulations will take effect creating a new Booklet class of self-mailers. The regulations include new specifications for booklet size, paper weight and sealing options for machinable, automation letter-size booklets.
New Address Requirements for Automation Flats
Effective March 29, 2009, the US Postal Service adopted new address placement and formatting requirements for flat-size pieces sent at automation, presorted, or carrier route prices.
Failure to meet the new placement requirements can result in disallowing all automation and presort discounts, which means single piece first class rates, based on weight, will apply.
Read the detailed requirements below:
