Proposed 2015 USPS Rate Changes

On January 15, the United States Postal Service (USPS) filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) a Market Dominant price change based on a Consumer Price Index (CPI) cap authority of 1.966%. All of the proposed price changes are based on CPI prices, plus the Exigent Surcharge.
If approved, the proposed changes will go into effect on April 26, 2015. The Court of Appeals has yet to rule on the Exigent Rollback Appeal, still leaving 2015 rates in flux. If denied, the Exigent will fall off. However, if the Appeal is overturned, the Exigent will stick. Below, we have provided, by class, the estimated rates for 2015 changes – the first column shows rates if the April 26 CPI price increase is approved and the second, rates if and when the exigent is removed.
Additional highlights from the CPI filing include:

• First Class full rate stamp remains unchanged at $0.49
• Free second-ounce continues for all Presort First Class Letter Mail – Non-automation and Automation
• Increased maximum weight for which only per-piece price is charged, from 3.3 ounces to 3.5 ounces, for Standard Letter Mail
• Rate categories for Flat Mail are yet to be determined because of the new Flat Sequencing System (FSS)
• The overall price increase for Business Reply Mail is 2.6%
• Full-Service Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb) discounts remain in place, unchanged

Want a more detailed look at the proposed changes?  Click here!