Washington, DC – Today the Postal Regulatory Commission issued Orders 4875 and 4876 approving the Postal Service’s planned rate adjustments for both Market Dominant products and Competitive products respectively.
Rate increases for Market Dominant products must meet certain statutory and regulatory requirements, the most prominent of which is that such increases be no greater than the rate of inflation, as determined by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. Conversely, the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act requires, among other things, that rates for Competitive products must produce sufficient revenues to ensure they are not subsidized by Market Dominant products.
The Commission found that the rates for both classes of mail meet all statutory requirements and may take effect, January 27, 2019, as planned. The Commission also found that the planned classification changes, with the revisions set forth in Orders 4875 and 4876, are consistent with applicable law.
Select Market Dominant First-Class Mail rates will change as follows:
|
Product
|
Old Rate
|
New Rate
|
|
Forever Stamp
|
50 cents
|
55 cents
|
|
Metered Letter
|
47 cents
|
50 cents
|
|
Additional Ounce
|
21 cents
|
15 cents
|
Select Competitive Product rates affected by the rate adjustment include:
|
Product: Priority Mail
|
Old Rate
|
New Rate
|
|
Retail Small Flat Rate Box
|
$7.20
|
$7.90
|
|
Retail Medium Retail Flat Rate Box
|
$13.65
|
$14.35
|
|
Retail Large Flat Rate Box
|
$18.90
|
$19.95
|
|
Retail Large Flat Rate Box APO/FPO/DPO
|
$17.40
|
$18.45
|
|
Retail Regular Flat Rate Envelope
|
$6.70
|
$7.35
|
|
Retail Legal Size Flat Rate Envelopes
|
$7.00
|
$7.65
|
|
Retail Padded Flat Rate Envelopes
|
$7.25
|
$8.00
|
The Commission’s complete analyses of the Postal Service’s Market Dominant and Competitive rate adjustments for calendar year 2019 are located at www.prc.gov in Docket Nos. R2019-1 and CP2019-3, respectively.
WASHINGTON — The United States Postal Service filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) today of price changes to take effect Jan. 27, 2019. Continue reading →
BACKGROUND: The Postal Regulatory Commission was required to initiate a review of the system for regulating rates and classes for Market Dominant products to determine if the ratemaking system has achieved the objectives of 39 U.S.C. 3622(b), taking into account the factors enumerated in 39 U.S.C. 3622(c). On December 20, 2016, the Commission began its review. Chairman Robert Taub will host a media conference to discuss the Commission’s findings. Continue reading →
How a Governor who left office in 2016 authorized USPS rates for 2018…
Note: the Billbray letter was pointed out to us by a former postal official, and was first reported on by postalmag.com. Some reports have referred to the Billbray letter as “postdated”, which is not accurate, since the letter is dated November 14, 2016, presumably the actual date it was signed- even though it was not filed with the PRC until almost a year later. Continue reading →
From USPS News Link:
USPS is offering comments on the 10-year pricing system review being conducted by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC).
Under a 2006 postal law, the PRC must review the system used for regulating rates and classes for market-dominant products, including First-Class Mail, USPS Marketing Mail and other mail categories. Continue reading →
Washington, DC – Today, the Postal Regulatory Commission (Commission) begins its review of the system for regulating rates and classes for Market Dominant products that was first established in 2006. The law requires that the Commission begin its review of the current rate system ten years after the date of enactment of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, to determine whether it’s achieving the objectives established by Congress. If the Commission finds that the objectives, taking into account the factors, are not being met, it has the authority to either propose rules that modify the system or adopt an alternative system to achieve the objectives. Order No. 3673 outlines the parameters and timing by which the Commission will complete its review. Continue reading →
