USPS Governors Approve Majority Of Postal Regulatory Commission’s Price Recommendations, Including Forever Stamp
March 2007
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Request Reconsideration for Some Mail Classes; Approve Shape-Based Pricing
Board of Governors Set May 14 for New Prices
WASHINGTON, DC—03/19/07—The Governors of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) today approved an increase in the price of a First-Class stamp to 41 cents, authorized the issuance of the Forever Stamp, approved shape-based pricing, and set May 14 as the date for implementation of these changes. (See chart below.) However, they delayed implementation of new prices for periodicals and requested reconsideration for some mail classes.
USPS proposed new rates on May 3, 2006, and the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) issued its recommendation on Feb. 26, 2007. The Governors spent considerable time deliberating the PRC’s recommendations — meeting six times and rewriting several drafts of their decision over the past 22 days — before voting earlier today. (See complete decision of the Governors at www.usps.com/ratecase)
“We praise the PRC for its early and thoughtful recommended decision, said Board of Governors Chairman James C. Miller III, “and appreciate the comprehensive analysis the Postal Service staff provided in its rate proposal.
Forever Stamp
The Governors approved the Forever Stamp, which will sell at the new 41-cent First-Class Mail one-ounce letter rate. The value on these stamps will always be the one-ounce letter rate and can be used for any future one-ounce letter mailing without extra postage.
“The Forever Stamp is a consumer innovation that delivers convenience and value and will help ease the transition for mailing letters when prices change, said Chairman Miller.
Shape-based Pricing
The new prices also reflect differences in the costs of handling letters, large envelopes (flats), and packages. Mailers are encouraged to consider options available to reduce postage costs. For example, if the contents of a First-Class large envelope are folded and placed in a letter-sized envelope, mailers can reduce postage by as much as 39 cents per piece.
Request for Reconsideration
The Governors, however, requested reconsideration of the PRC’s rate recommendations for Standard Mail flats (catalogs), the Non-machinable Surcharge for First-Class Mail letters, and the Priority Mail Flat-Rate Box.
Standard Mail Flats - The Governors are concerned that price increases recommended by the PRC may impose an unnecessary degree of “rate shock on the catalog industry, particularly small businesses. The recommended increase for some catalog mailers is as much as 40 percent, which is more than double what the Postal Service had proposed.
Board of Governors Set May 14 for New Prices
WASHINGTON, DC—03/19/07—The Governors of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) today approved an increase in the price of a First-Class stamp to 41 cents, authorized the issuance of the Forever Stamp, approved shape-based pricing, and set May 14 as the date for implementation of these changes. (See chart below.) However, they delayed implementation of new prices for periodicals and requested reconsideration for some mail classes.
USPS proposed new rates on May 3, 2006, and the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) issued its recommendation on Feb. 26, 2007. The Governors spent considerable time deliberating the PRC’s recommendations — meeting six times and rewriting several drafts of their decision over the past 22 days — before voting earlier today. (See complete decision of the Governors at www.usps.com/ratecase)
“We praise the PRC for its early and thoughtful recommended decision, said Board of Governors Chairman James C. Miller III, “and appreciate the comprehensive analysis the Postal Service staff provided in its rate proposal.
Forever Stamp
The Governors approved the Forever Stamp, which will sell at the new 41-cent First-Class Mail one-ounce letter rate. The value on these stamps will always be the one-ounce letter rate and can be used for any future one-ounce letter mailing without extra postage.
“The Forever Stamp is a consumer innovation that delivers convenience and value and will help ease the transition for mailing letters when prices change, said Chairman Miller.
Shape-based Pricing
The new prices also reflect differences in the costs of handling letters, large envelopes (flats), and packages. Mailers are encouraged to consider options available to reduce postage costs. For example, if the contents of a First-Class large envelope are folded and placed in a letter-sized envelope, mailers can reduce postage by as much as 39 cents per piece.
Request for Reconsideration
The Governors, however, requested reconsideration of the PRC’s rate recommendations for Standard Mail flats (catalogs), the Non-machinable Surcharge for First-Class Mail letters, and the Priority Mail Flat-Rate Box.
Standard Mail Flats - The Governors are concerned that price increases recommended by the PRC may impose an unnecessary degree of “rate shock on the catalog industry, particularly small businesses. The recommended increase for some catalog mailers is as much as 40 percent, which is more than double what the Postal Service had proposed.
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