PRC okays USPS' competitive products price increase

USPS pushes back Intelligent Mail barcode implementation

The Postal Regulatory Commission authorized the US Postal Service's planned price increases for its competitive products yesterday.

“Based on the notice and supporting material… the commission finds no reason to conclude that the planned price adjustments for competitive products are not in compliance with applicable statuary provisions,” wrote Steven W. Williams, the PRC's secretary, in the order.

The USPS' competitive products include Priority Mail, Express Mail, parcel select and parcel return service, in addition to certain international mail offerings. The price change is scheduled to go into effect May 12. 

According to the commission, Express Mail rates will increase by 3.1% while Priority Mail will increase by 4%, parcel select by 5.7%, and parcel return service by 2%. The rate change for various International competitive products range from 5.2% for global express guaranteed to 21.3% for international surface airlift.