USPS Increases Rates on Jan. 21

Forever stamps will increase from 49 to 50 cents on Jan. 21. On that day, Mailing Services product prices will rise “approximately 1.9 percent, and most Shipping Services products will average a 3.9 percent price increase,” according to the USPS. In a show of its resolve to do so, USPS filed a Priority Mail amendment with the PRC on Friday.

This price rise is slated to occur after the USPS delivers more than 15 billion pieces of mail at the old prices during Holiday 2017.

Noting the PRC’s power to approve the requested hikes, USPS announced on Oct. 6:

The new prices, if approved, include a one cent increase in the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp from 49 cents to 50 cents.

Postcard stamps and metered letters would also have a one cent increase.

While most of Friday’s filing is redacted (Opens as a PDF) USPS did say in October what it expected to charge for Priority Mail: “The new Shipping Services product prices would increase Priority Mail 3.9 percent and Priority Mail Retail an average of 0.8 percent.”

Here are the price breakdowns, based on product, its current rate and its proposed increase:

• Letters (1 oz.), 49 cents, 50 cents
• Letters additional ounces, 21 cents, 21 cents
• Letters (metered), 46 cents, 47 cents
• Outbound International Letters (1 oz.), $1.15, $1.15
• Domestic Postcards, 34 cents, 35 cents
• Small Flat Rate Box, $7.15, $7.20
• Medium Flat Rate Box, $13.60, $13.65
• Large Flat Rate Box, $18.85, $18.90
• APO/FPO Large Flat Rate Box, $17.35, $17.40
• Regular Flat Rate Envelope, $6.65, $6.70
• Legal Flat Rate Envelope, $6.95, $7.00
• Padded Flat Rate Envelope, $7.20, $7.25

What do you think, marketers?

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