USPS has announced price changes for letters, postcards and flats in alignment with Delivering for America, its 10-year plan to achieve financial stability and service excellence.
If favorably reviewed by the Postal Regulatory Commission, the changes would take effect Aug. 29.
Here are the current and planned prices:
• Letters (1 ounce): 55 cents (current), 58 cents (planned)
• Letters (additional ounces): 20 cents (no change from current price)
• Letters (metered 1 ounce): 51 cents (current), 53 cents (planned)
• Domestic postcards: 36 cents (current), 40 cents (planned)
• Flats (1 ounce): $1 (current), $1.16 (planned)
• Outbound international letters (1 ounce): $1.20 (current), $1.30 (planned)
“For the past 14 years, the Postal Service has had limited pricing authority to respond to changing market realities,” said Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. “As part of our 10-year plan to achieve financial sustainability and service excellence, the Postal Service and the Board of Governors are committed to judiciously implementing a rational pricing approach that helps enable us to remain viable and competitive and offer reliable postal services that are among the most affordable in the world.”
Under the current pricing model and the proposed changes, the cost to mail a First-Class Mail letter is significantly lower in the United States than in many other Western countries, including Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and France.
The proposed changes will address operating losses in the near term and will help fund investments in workers, technology and infrastructure to improve operations and customer service.
The PRC’s website has the Postal Service’s complete price filing, including prices for all products. The Postal Explorer site has price change tables.
The USPS news release has additional information.
