USPS Announces Rates, Status of IMb

WASHINGTON, DC—The United States Postal Service (USPS) has filed new mailing service prices with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). The increases are limited by law to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) cap of 1.7 percent. The new rates are slated to take effect April 17.

In a statement, the USPS pointed out that it has been nearly two years since the last rate increase. Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe also announced that the USPS is relaxing some guidelines on the implementation of 
Intelligent Mail services.

"We heard concerns that we were moving too fast on discontinuing POSTNET coding, and we will continue to offer the automation prices for mail with POSTNET barcodes 
beyond May 2011." Donahoe emphasized the value of the Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb) to mailers and reiterated the USPS' commitment to implementing the IMb.

To date, more than 41 billion pieces of mail have been processed using the IMb, according to the Postal Service.

Mailers can continue to use POSTNET barcodes to qualify for automation discounts. The POSTNET code was to sunset this May to enable broad adoption and use of the IMb. There will be no full-service Address Change Service (ACS) charges.