Mailers Rallying Against Rumored 10 Percent Postage Hike

One scenario being discussed among mailers is an exigent increase of 5 percent to 7 percent for all market-dominant classes plus an additional 3 percent for the unprofitable classes. That's on top of the usual inflation-based increase, which could be close to 2 percent in January.

Annual rate hikes for the market-dominant classes are generally capped by changes in the Consumer Price Index. But the law also has a provision “whereby rates may be adjusted on an expedited basis due to either extraordinary or exceptional circumstances.”

The law, however, does not provide the Postal Regulatory Commission clear guidelines as to what constitutes