Periodicals Rates Will Rise in April, Postal Service Announces

The United States Postal Service today announced rate increases set to go into effect in April, including a 1.8 percent increase in periodicals rates.

Overall price increases across all mailing categories are limited to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) cap of 1.7 percent. According to a USPS press release, while the price of first class stamps, Express Mail and Priority Mail will not change, rates for first class flats, parcels and international letters, standard mail letters and parcels will go up significantly on April 17. The price to mail a postcard will increase by a penny. Periodicals rates for outside county delivery will go up 1.8 percent, with inside county periodicals rates increasing 1.1 percent. More detailed pricing information is available here.

The proposed price changes are expected to generate $340 million for the rest of fiscal year 2011. The postal service lost 8.5 billion in fiscal year 2010, which ended in September, in the face of continuing declines in first-class mail volume. A proposal to raise rates above the amount allowed by the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 was rejected by the Postal Regulatory Commission in September.