November 13 Update
The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) announced on November 10, 2017, that it has approved the rate changes as submitted by the United States Postal Service (USPS).
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What’s happening?
On October 6th, the United States Postal Service (USPS) filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) of postage rate changes slated to take effect Jan. 21, 2018.
In the notice, USPS is requesting an average postage rate increase of approximately 1.9% across all classes and categories of mail. Note that this increase is an average, however. If the proposal is approved as is, some classes and types of mail would experience a rate decrease, while others would see rate increases above 4%.
What are the proposed rate changes?
If the rate change plan is accepted as is, rates would be modified as follows:
| Class | Category | Rate Change |
|---|---|---|
| Periodicals | Flats | 1.93% |
| Nonprofit Periodicals | Flats | 1.40% |
| USPS Marketing Mail | Flats | 1.55% |
| USPS Marketing Mail | Letters | – 0.35% |
| Nonprofit USPS Marketing Mail | Flats | – 5.00% |
| Nonprofit USPS Marketing Mail | Letters | 0.58% |
| Bound Printed Matter | Presorted Flats | – 1.72% |
| Bound Printed Matter | Presorted Parcels | – 3.04% |
| Bound Printed Matter | Single-Piece Flats | 1.40% |
| Bound Printed Matter | Single-Piece Parcels | 1.45% |
What’s next?
Now that USPS has filed notice, the next step is for the PRC to review the details and either accept it as is or send it back to USPS for adjustments. In fact, because of the authority given to them in the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA), the PRC could impose a drastically different plan following their review of the USPS rate change notice.
Walsworth will continue to monitor this situation closely as the PRC prepares their response to the USPS request. Postage rate updates will be sent out as new information becomes available.
Questions?
Please contact us if you have questions regarding how this rate change might affect your organization.
