U.S. Postal Service Announces New Prices for 2019 …

WASHINGTON, DC October 10, 2018 — The United States Postal Service filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) today of price changes to take effect Jan. 27, 2019.

The proposed prices, approved by the Governors of the Postal Service, would raise Mailing Services product prices approximately 2.5 percent. Shipping Services price increases vary by product. For example, Priority Mail Express will increase 3.9 percent and Priority Mail will increase 5.9 percent. Although Mailing Services price increases are based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), Shipping Services prices are primarily adjusted according to market conditions. The Governors believe these new rates will keep the Postal Service competitive while providing the agency with needed revenue.

If favorably reviewed by the PRC, the new prices will include a 5-cent increase in the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp, from 50 cents to 55 cents. The single-piece additional ounce price will be reduced to 15 cents, so a 2-ounce stamped letter, such as a typical wedding invitation, will cost less to mail, decreasing from 71 cents to 70 cents.

The proposed Mailing Services price changes include:

Product Current Proposed

Letters (1 oz.) from 50 cents to 55 cents

Letters additional ounces from 21 cents to 15 cents

Letters (metered 1 oz.) from 47 cents to 50 cents

Outbound International Letters (1 oz.) from $1.15 to $1.15

Domestic Postcards from 35 cents to 35 cents

The proposed domestic Priority Mail Retail Flat Rate price changes are:

Product Current Proposed

Small Flat Rate Box from $7.20 to $7.90

Medium Flat Rate Box from $13.65 to $14.35

Large Flat Rate Box from $18.90 to $19.95

APO/FPO Large Flat Rate Box from $17.40 to $18.45

Regular Flat Rate Envelope from $6.70 to $7.35

Legal Flat Rate Envelope from $7.00 to $7.65

Padded Flat Rate Envelope from $7.25 to $8.00

First-Class Package Service, a lightweight expedited offering used primarily by businesses for fulfillment purposes, will move to zone-based pricing to better align with the cost of service and improve value based on distance.

The Postal Service has some of the lowest letter mail postage rates in the industrialized world and also continues to offer a great value in shipping. Unlike some other shippers, the Postal Service does not add surcharges for fuel, residential delivery, or regular Saturday or holiday season delivery.

The PRC will review the prices before they are scheduled to take effect Jan. 27, 2019.