USPS confirms it – announces price change for postal services this winter

The United States Postal Service (USPS) recently unveiled plans to implement temporary price adjustments during the upcoming holiday season. These changes are still awaiting approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC)will mainly affect certain parcel delivery services. The USPS stated that these changes are intended to ensure that prices for both commercial and residential customers remain competitive with other services in the marketplace.

The USPSs suggested price increases will vary depending on package weight and delivery zone. For example, smaller items will see an increase of about 30 cents, while larger packages could see price increases of up to $16. The adjustments will affect services such as: Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage and Priority Mail Express.

For commercial customers who use Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage within zones 1-4, there is a 30 cent increase for packages weighing between 0 and 3 pounds. Heavier packages, between 4 and 10 pounds, will see a 45 cent increase, while packages weighing between 11 and 25 pounds will see a 75 cent increase. Larger packages in this zone, weighing between 26 and 70 pounds, will see a $3 price increase.

The increase is slightly larger for deliveries in zones 5-9. Smaller packages (0-3 pounds) will see an increase of 70 cents, while packages between 4 and 10 pounds will see an increase of $1.25. For those in the 11-25 pound range, the cost will increase by $2.75. Larger shipments weighing between 26 and 70 pounds will see a $7 price increase.

The price changes for USPS land benefit are similar. Commercial packages in zones 5-9 will see an increase of 35 cents for items 0-3 pounds, and packages between 4-10 pounds will increase by 75 cents. The cost for packages weighing 11 to 25 pounds will increase by $1.25, and for larger packages between 26 and 70 pounds the price will increase by $5.50.

In Zones 5-9, retail customers will see a 90 cent increase for smaller packages (0-3 pounds), while packages between 4 and 10 pounds will see a $1.45 increase. For items weighing between 11 and 25 pounds, the cost will increase by $3.25. The biggest increase will affect parcels between £26 and £70, which will see a price increase of $8.50.

Using retail customers USPS Ground Advantage Services will see similar price adjustments, with smaller items (0-3 pounds) seeing a 50 cent increase, and packages in the 4-10 pound range seeing a $1 increase. For packages weighing between 11 and 25 pounds, the price will increase by $2, and for larger packages (26 to 70 pounds), the cost will increase by $5.85.

For retail customers, the proposed changes are slightly higher. Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage services in zones 1-4 will see a 40 cent increase for items weighing 0-3 pounds. Heavier packages between 4 and 10 pounds will see a 55 cent increase, while packages between 11 and 25 pounds will see a 95 cent increase. For larger shipments, there will be a $4 price increase for packages between 26 and 70 pounds.

Priority Mail Express Services are also subject to price changes, with both commercial and residential customers experiencing price increases. Commercial customers in zones 1-4 will see an increase of $1 for smaller packages (0-3 pounds), while packages between 4-10 pounds will see an increase of $1.50. Larger packages in the 11-25 pound range will see an increase of $3.50, while the heaviest packages (26-70 pounds) will increase by $8.95. In Zones 5-9, price increases will be steeper, with a $7.50 increase for 11- to 25-pound packages and a $13 increase for larger packages.

The increases are slightly larger for private customers. Smaller packages (0-3 pounds) will see an increase of $1.10 in Zones 1-4 and an increase of $2 in Zones 5-9. Heavier packages (4-10 pounds) will see an increase of $2 in Zones 1-4, and $4.85 in Zones 5-9. The heaviest packages (26-70 pounds) will see the largest price increase, with an increase of $9.75 in Zones 1-4 and $16 in Zones 5-9.

USPS clarifies that no price increases will occur for scheduled services not included in these proposed changes. If approved by the PRC, the new rates will go into effect at midnight Central Time on October 6, 2024 and will remain in effect until January 19, 2025. USPS Board of Directors has already approved the plan.

Moreover, the USPS had previously announced changes to delivery times for certain customers. From August the USPS stated that its “plans to improve mail processing and transportation” could benefit those living near major processing facilities. However, customers in rural areas may experience slower delivery times. Despite these changes, the USPS assured that the upcoming election and holiday period would not be affected.