The U.S. Postal Service proposed increasing international postage rates an average of 5.9 percent, according to a filing in yesterday's Federal Register. The agency also wants to realign certain Express Mail and Air Parcel Post rate groups based on operational changes that have occurred since the last rate increase in 2001.
The USPS said it is proposing to change international postage rates concurrent with the implementation of new domestic rates and fees. Though no date has been set, the increase most likely will happen on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The filing said that to the extent possible, the USPS targeted the same 5.4 percent across-the-board increase requested in its domestic rate filing with the Postal Rate Commission, but the increase is more for some services and country groups. The PRC does not have to approve or reject international rates.
For a full list of proposed changes, go to http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/05-18260.htm
Mailers can submit comments about the filing on or before Oct. 17.
In a related Federal Register filing, the USPS said mail going to the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia now will use the international rate schedules because of an agreement between the governments.
Melissa Campanelli covers postal news, CRM and database marketing for DM News and DMNews.com. To keep up with the latest developments in these areas, subscribe to our daily and weekly e-mail newsletters by visiting www.dmnews.com/newsletters
