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 Postal Rates

USPS offers commercial mailers a free ounce for promo inserts

January 26, 2012

In response to feedback from the mailing industry, businesses mailing automated or presort letters first-class can now mail letters weighing up to two ounces at the one-ounce postage rate, said U.S. Postal Service (USPS) spokesperson Patricia Licata on Jan. 26. The "2nd Ounce Free" initiative became effective this week.
 

Direct mailers no longer need to prepay postage

January 06, 2012

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has been granted permission by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) to allow direct mailers to pay postage via credit rather than requiring prepayment, said PRC chairman Ruth Goldway on Jan. 6. The new rules went into effect Jan. 5.
 

USPS proposes rate increases for 2012

November 23, 2011

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) seeks to raise shipping service rates by 4.6%, the company said in a Nov. 22 statement. Priority Mail prices will increase on average 3.1%, Express Mail prices will increase 3.3% and First-Class Package Service prices will increase 3.7%
 

Paper and ink prices rise, but industry executives more troubled by postal hike

Mercedes Cardona May 01, 2011

War and natural disasters won't slow the rise in printing costs. Conflicts in the Middle East, especially the Libyan civil war, drove oil prices from $90 a barrel in early February to more than $112 in April, and that puts pressure on prices of raw materials, including many of the precursor ingredients for inks.
 

Postal Regulatory Commission divided on five-day delivery

March 24, 2011

The Postal Regulatory Commission said March 24 that the US Postal Service overestimated its potential savings and underestimated potential lost revenues in its proposal to move to five-day-per-week home delivery. The commission's five members issued varying opinions on the plan to cut Saturday delivery, which Congress is expected to debate this session.
 

Planned postal rate hike hits marketers, but many remain loyal to mail medium

Mercedes Cardona March 01, 2011

The postal rate increase coming this spring is not expected to have a significant effect on direct mail marketing plans this year, thanks to its size and timing.
 

Print stages a comeback

Dianna Dilworth March 01, 2011

The printing industry's newfound creativity has recaptured marketers looking for impact as it races to compete against its digital brethren
 

Rising paper costs, postal price increases force adjustments

March 01, 2011

Marketers sound off on how rising costs are impacting strategies
 

USPS to appeal rejected price increase

Kate Muth October 22, 2010

The Postal Service said today that it would appeal the Postal Regulatory Commission's (PRC) September 30 ruling that denied the Postal Service's exigent price increase.
 

How to save the US Postal Service

Craig A. Huey, President, Creative Direct Marketing Group August 09, 2010

Direct mail will be dead for many companies and dying for many more — if postal rates rise in 2011. Some have the delusion that small reforms at the US Postal Service will protect the direct mail industry, but a number of direct marketers and political leaders recognize the problem can't be solved by lobbying and compromise.
 

Marketers bear the brunt of postal woes

July 12, 2010

The U.S. Postal Service unveiled details of its proposed "exigent price increase" last week and filed an application with its regulator, the Postal Regulatory Commission. Direct mailers sprang into action decrying the move, and mailers across the board vow to fight the increase (see cover story).
 

Rate increases outrage mailers

Kate Muth July 12, 2010

Marketers and catalogers that rely on mail to reach consumers decried the USPS's proposed "exigent price increases," saying the hikes would have drastic negative financial repercussions for 2011.
 

Postal Service unveils price increases; industry groups plan to fight implementation

Kate Muth July 06, 2010

The US Postal Service unveiled details of its proposed "exigent price increase" on July 6. Direct marketing and mailing industry trade groups immediately vowed to fight the price increase.
 

USPS sees $642M May net loss

June 28, 2010

The US Postal Service saw a net loss of $642 million in May, bringing its fiscal-year-to-date total net loss to more than $2.9 billion, according to preliminary financial data filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission.
 

Mailers plan coalition to fight postal rate increase

Kate Muth June 24, 2010

The unprecedented nature of the US Postal Service's forthcoming "exigent" rate case is uniting the business mailing community in a way few other issues have.
 

Merchants prepare for possible postal cuts

May 17, 2010

Catalogers and multichannel retailers are beginning to plan their responses to the US Postal Service's possible move to a five-day home delivery schedule.
 

USPS rate hike expected in 2011

Kate Muth May 14, 2010

Catalog mailers and magazine publishers are bracing for sizable postage price increases in January 2011, when the US Postal Service expects to implement an "exigent" price increase on mailing services.
 

Mailers regroup after postage increase plan

March 15, 2010

John Potter, CEO and postmaster general of the USPS, described the organization's challenges in restoring financial stability in stark terms last week. He expects a cumulative shortfall of $238 billion by 2020 as mail volume drops by 27 billion pieces.
 

2010 shipping rates take effect today

January 04, 2010

The US Postal Service's new rates for numerous shipping services, including Express Mail, Priority Mail, Parcel Return Service and Express Mail International, went into effect today.
 

Make the most of stable postal rates

January 04, 2010

The US Postal Service has decided not to raise first-class rates for 2010. Four direct mail experts divulge their top recommendations for taking advantage of the break in rate increases.
 

Fiscal recovery is no reason to ditch streamlining strategies

John Campo, John Campo, VP of postal relations, Pitney Bowes January 04, 2010

The "great recession" has dealt its share of challenges to the mailing industry, and mailers are hard-pressed to find good news these days. Fortunately, the US Postal Service delivered an early holiday present in December — there will be no increase in first-class postage in 2010.
 

Use several strategies, including change of address programs, to cut back on costs

Mike Yapuncich, VP, Experian January 04, 2010

Many mailers planned for a 2% to 3% increase in postage in 2010. The lack of a rate increase means many mailers can take advantage of the surplus budget to increase circulation, especially in acquisition and reactivation efforts. The key to doing this successfully is to "mail smarter."
 

Take advantage of drop-shipping, copalletization and commingling to save money

Rich Cicha, director of mailing services and logistics, Direct Group January 04, 2010

Ever since the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 became law, mailers have had two questions: "What's the Consumer Price Index?" and "How much additional postage will I now have to pay?" For the first time in many years, the USPS won't raise first-class or standard-mail postage rates in 2010. But savvy application of some postage-saving techniques could push even more cash to your bottom line while actually enhancing delivery.
 

FedEx announces 2010 ground, home delivery rate increase

December 04, 2009

FedEx announced December 3 that it will increase standard rates for FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery by an average of 4.9% next year. The rate changes take effect January 4, 2010. The shipper previously announced that it will raise shipping rates for FedEx Express by an average of 5.9% for US domestic and US export services, effective next month.
 

UPS announces average rate increases of 4.9% for 2010

November 23, 2009

UPS announced November 20 that its 2010 shipping rates will increase by an average of 4.9% for UPS Ground packages, and will see an average net increase of 4.9% for air express and US origin international shipments. The rates will go into effect January 4, 2010.
 

Postal Service narrows branch consolidation list to 241

November 20, 2009

Less than a week after the US Postal Service disclosed that it incurred a $3.8 billion net loss for fiscal year 2009, it narrowed the list of branches it is considering closing by 130. The agency is still reviewing the possible closure of 241 post offices as of November 20.
 

Potter insists on five-day delivery as part of Postal Service reform

Kate Muth November 13, 2009

John Potter, postmaster general and CEO of the US Postal Service, used the open session of the November 13 USPS Board of Governors meeting to press again for structural reform of the agency, insisting that real reform must reduce the number of delivery days from six to five per week.
 

UPS to raise 2010 shipping rates

November 11, 2009

UPS will announce increases in its shipping rates later this month. Norman Black, director of global media services at UPS, said via e-mail that the shipping company does "foresee some general increases," and "adjustments to both air and ground rates," but it was not prepared to disclose details.
 

Experts: No USPS rate increase could result in customer retention

October 16, 2009

Direct mailers are calling the US Postal Service's announcement that it will not raise rates for almost all of its shipping categories next year a welcome surprise, especially considering that many were preparing additional funding for a rate increase.
 

Postal Service says it won't raise 2010 rates

October 16, 2009

The US Postal Service told businesses on October 15 that it will not raise rates for 2010 on its "market-dominant products," a category that includes first-class and standard mail, periodicals and single-piece parcel post. The agency has predicted that the fiscal year 2009 mail volume could be as much as 20 billion pieces lighter than the year before.