The Postal Service announced a round of price increases set to take effect January 26, 2020.
The new prices will raise shipping costs to consumers by 1.9% overall and have been approved by the Governors of the Postal Service. The Governors believe these new rates will keep the Postal Service competitive while providing the agency with needed revenue.
The Postal Service has been consistently losing money for years, usually reporting net losses into the billions, so the price hikes are not a surprise and are one attempt to help offset some of those growing losses.
The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) will review the prices before they are scheduled to take effect Jan. 26, 2020.
Shipping Services price increases vary by product. For instance, Priority Mail Express would increase 3.5% and Priority Mail would increase 4.1%, on average. Although Mailing Services price increases are based on the Consumer Price Index, Shipping Services prices are primarily adjusted according to market conditions.
However, if favorably reviewed by the Postal Regulatory Commission, there will not be a price increase for a First-Class Mail Forever stamp, which would remain at 55 cents, or for postcard stamps which would stay at 35 cents. Also, 1-ounce flats would remain unchanged at $1.
The proposed Mailing Services price changes include:
| Product | Current | Proposed |
|---|---|---|
| Letters (1 oz.) | 55 cents | 55 cents |
| Letters additional ounces | 15 cents | 15 cents |
| Letters (metered 1 oz.) | 50 cents | 50 cents |
| Flats (1 oz.) | $1 | $1 |
| Outbound International Letters (1 oz.) | $1.15 | $1.20 |
| Domestic Postcards | 35 cents | 35 cents |
The proposed domestic Priority Mail Flat Rate Retail price changes are:
| Product | Current | Proposed |
|---|---|---|
| Small Flat-Rate Box | $7.90 | $8.30 |
| Medium Flat-Rate Box | $14.35 | $15.05 |
| Large Flat-Rate Box | $19.95 | $21.10 |
| APO/FPO Large Flat-Rate Box | $18.45 | $19.60 |
| Regular Flat-Rate Envelope | $7.35 | $7.75 |
| Legal Flat-Rate Envelope | $7.65 | $8.05 |
| Padded Flat-Rate Envelope | $8 | $8.40 |
