The Postal Service has announced Shipping Services price changes for next year.
If reviewed favorably by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), the changes would take effect Jan. 9.
Here’s a list of current and planned prices:
• Priority Mail small flat-rate box: $8.45 (current), $9.45 (planned)
• Priority Mail medium flat-rate box: $15.50 (current), $16.10 (planned)
• Priority Mail large flat-rate box: $21.90 (current), $21.50 (planned)
• Army/Air Post Office and Fleet Post Office large flat-rate box: $20.40 (current), $20 (planned)
• Priority Mail regular flat-rate envelope: $7.95 (current), $8.95 (planned)
• Priority Mail legal flat-rate envelope: $8.25 (current), $9.25 (planned)
• Priority Mail padded flat-rate envelope: $8.55 (current), $9.65 (planned)
Overall, these changes would raise Shipping Services product prices approximately 3.1 percent for Priority Mail service and 3.1 percent for Priority Mail Express service.
Although Mailing Services price increases are based on the consumer price index, Shipping Services prices are primarily adjusted according to market conditions.
The Postal Service implemented price changes for cards, letters and flats in August.
USPS filed the Shipping Services price proposals with the PRC on Nov. 10.
The filing also included pricing to support USPS Connect, a series of affordable package delivery offerings for businesses that is expected to launch in 2022, if favorably reviewed.
Additionally, the Postal Service is supporting mail by requesting approval for Plus One, a product that will provide additional marketing options for businesses to reach customers who use mail, and a market test for USPS Connect Local Mail, which will allow customers to send documents within local communities for same-day and next-day delivery.
Delivering for America, the organization’s plan to achieve financial stability, is designed to reverse a projected $160 billion in operating losses during the next 10 years.
The plan’s growth and efficiency initiatives, including the proposed pricing changes, together with necessary legislation, should allow USPS to make investments totaling approximately $40 billion during the next decade to modernize and improve the organization’s infrastructure to become more efficient and responsive.
The complete price filings can be found on the PRC website under the Daily Listings section (see Docket No. CP2022-22). The price change tables will be available on the Postal Explorer website.
