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U.S.P.S. Rate Increases and Proposed Changes |
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This page highlights all the latest changes
to U.S. postage rates, USPS fees and service
charge increases. Below you'll find details
on increases to U.S. mailing rates that are
coming, or have recently been implemented.
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Latest Postage Rate Increases and Changes |
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NOTE: The price for a one ounce First-Class stamp increased from 41 to 42 cents on May 12, 2008.
NOTE: U.S.P.S. rates for mailing services
will now be adjusted annually each May.
New U.S.P.S. rates (Effective May 12, 2008)
| Selected Prices & Services |
Old |
New (Effective May 12) |
First-Class Mail Letter (1 oz.) |
41¢ |
42¢ |
First-Class Mail Letter (2 oz.) |
58¢ |
59¢ |
Postcard |
26¢ |
27¢ |
Large Envelope (2 oz.) |
97¢ |
$1.00 |
Money Orders (up to $500) |
$1.05 |
$1.05 |
Certified Mail |
$2.65 |
$2.70 |
First-Class Mail International Letter
(1 oz. to Canada or Mexico) |
69¢ |
72¢ |
First-Class Mail International Letter
(1 oz. to other countries) |
90¢ |
94¢ |
January 17, 2008, the U.S. Postal Service announced
that its Board of Governors approved a $12.50
premium for Sunday and holiday Express Mail
delivery. As an alternative to Sunday Express Mail
delivery, customers can choose Monday delivery at
the standard Express Mail price. Unlike the main
postage increase that went into effect May 12th, 2008,
the new Express Mail surcharge took effect
March 3, 2008.
Visit our more comprehensive list of current U.S. postage
rates and U.S. Postal Service state abbreviations.
Visit our comprehensive list of U.S. Postal Service
mail holidays - UPS holidays - FedEx holidays - DHL holidays.
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Plan for future postage rate increases announced in November 2007 |
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Prices for mailing services will now be adjusted annually
in May. The USPS anticipates notifying the public of all
future price changes 90 days before any increase takes effect.
November 15, 2007, the Postal Service Governors announced
that future prices will be adjusted using new regulations
issued by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) on Oct. 29.
Consistent with the Postal Accountability and Enhancement
Act of 2006, future price increases will be capped at
the rate of inflation for mailing services.*
The Governors had the option of filing one last rate
case under the regulations used since 1971, but voted
to proceed with the new pricing regulations. "We thank
the Postal Regulatory Commission for completing the
new rules eight months ahead of the statutory deadline,"
said Postmaster General John E. Potter. "This delivers
one of the main goals of the new law for business mailers -- a
predictable price schedule."
The new pricing regulations give the Postal Service
added flexibility for shipping services.** "We intend
to use this new flexibility to grow our competitive
business," said Potter, "offering volume discounts
and contract pricing." "There are still many details
to be worked out, but we look forward to partnering
with the PRC and our customers to maximize the
advantages of the new pricing rules," Potter said.
The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, which
established two separate product categories -- Market-Dominant
products and Competitive products -- prescribes a new
process for setting prices. Increases for Market-Dominant
products are capped at the Consumer Price Index, by
class. For Competitive products, the new law creates
far greater pricing flexibility for the U.S. Postal
Service. Previously, pricing changes would have to go
through a lengthy hearing process with the Postal Rate
Commission before going into effect.
* Mailing services include First-Class Mail, Standard
Mail and Periodicals.
** Shipping services include bulk parcels and expedited
package services such as Priority Mail and Express Mail.
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Forever Stamp |
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The new "forever" First-Class mail stamp is
good for any future single-piece First-Class
letter mailing, no matter how high postage
prices might rise in the future, and is intended
to eliminate the inconvenience of having to buy
new stamps every time the rates increase. While
the public can use it as a hedge against future
postage rate increases, that doesn't mean the
price of the innovative Forever Stamp won't
increase in the future. As First-Class stamps
continue to increase, so will the price of the
Forever Stamp. However, Forever Stamps that you
may have purchased at a lower rate will still
be valid as First-Class postage without adding
any additional postage.
With the Postal Service going to an annual schedule
of postage rate increases in 2008, use of the Forever
Stamp will help ease the inconvenience of the new
stamp prices every year.
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2007 U.S. postage rate increase |
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NOTE: The 2007 U.S. postage rate increase
went into effect May 14th, 2007.
The Governors of the U.S. Postal Service
(USPS) have approved an increase in the
price of a First-Class stamp to 41 cents,
authorized the issuance of the innovative
Forever Stamp (which is discussed in greater
detail below) and approved shape-based pricing.
Those changes went into effect May 14, 2007.
They did delay implementation of new prices
for periodicals and requested reconsideration
for some other mail classes. New postage
rates for magazines and newspapers was
delayed until 12:01 a.m. on July 15, 2007.
2007 U.S.P.S. rate changes for domestic mail
| U.S. postage rates for | Old | New (in 2007) |
| Standard First-Class Letter (1 ounce) * | 39¢ | 41¢ |
| Standard First-Class Letter (up to 2 ounces) * | 63¢ | 58¢ |
| Standard First-Class Letter (up to 3 ounces) * | 87¢ | 75¢ |
| Postcard | 24¢ | 26¢ |
| Priority Mail (1 lb.) | $4.05 | $4.60 |
| Express Mail (1/2 lb) | $14.40 | $16.25 |
| Express Mail (1 lb) | $18.80 | $19.50 |
New shape-based pricing
The new shape-based classification system brought
significant and rather intricate changes to
sending many First-Class mailings. Postage rates
are now based not only on weight, but also on
the shape of First-Class Mail and parcels.
Example: Previously the cost of mailing a two
ounce First-Class large Manila envelope, a two
ounce First-Class letter, and a small two ounce
First-Class box was usually identical. This is
no longer the case. In the above example, the
two ounce First-Class flat Manila envelope will
now require significantly more postage (97 cents)
than the two ounce First-Class letter (58 cents),
with the two ounce First-Class parcel costing
$1.30 to ship.
* NOTE: First-Class letters that exceed
one or more of the USPS dimension classifications
for standard letters are subject to additional
surcharges.
February 26, 2007, the independent Postal Regulatory
Commission announced that they recommended a 2-cent
increase in the cost of mailing a First-Class letter.
Their recommendation to increase postage to 41 cents
was actually a penny less than the U.S.P.S. had
requested. The commission also urged the Post Office
to introduce its proposed "forever" stamp valid for
First-Class postage even when rates rise. The commission
recommended increasing the rate for mailing a postcard
to 26 cents. This increase was also one cent less than
the Post Office had sought. While the first ounce of
First-Class mail would rise to 41 cents, each additional
ounce would drop to 17 cents under the proposal. This
new amount for each additional ounce is also less than
the U.S. Postal Service was seeking. The postal rate
increase matter then went back to the Board of Governors
of the Postal Service for a decision on whether to accept
the recommendation or ask the commission to reconsider.
The cost of a U.S. First-Class stamp went from 37
cents to 39 cents in January of 2006. The U.S.P.S.
Governors cited increasing fuel and healthcare
costs as a couple of the reasons for the filing
with the Postal Rate Commission for price
adjustments in 2007. The USPS claims the changes
will cost the average U.S. household less than
$6.00 annually.
Although there was no set timetable for U.S.
postage rate increases in the past, in 2007,
the USPS announced plans to move to a regular
schedule for postage rate increases capped at
the rate of inflation (See the related story
above under the heading "Plan for future
postage rate increases announced in November
2007").
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