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No Postage Increase
for 2010
The United States Postal Service today announced there will be no increase of postal prices in 2010, according to a statement released by the Postmaster General, Jack Potter.
"The Postal Service will not increase prices for market dominant products in calendar year 2010," Potter wrote. "Simply stated, there will not be a price increase for market dominant products including First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, periodicals, single-piece Parcel Post."
The entire statement by the Postmaster General reads:
To Postal Service Customers:
Many of you have expressed concerns regarding mailing costs
for 2010. The tough economic climate has presented significant challenges to all of us and pessimistic speculation has
suggested that postal prices could increase by as much as 10 percent.
As we begin a new fiscal year and as many of you, our business clients, are preparing your 2010 operating budgets, we
want to end all speculation.
The Postal Service will not increase prices for market dominant
products in calendar year 2010.
Simply stated, there will not be a price increase
for market dominant products including First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, periodicals, single-piece Parcel Post. There
will be no exigent price increase for these products.
This is the right decision at the
right time for the right reason. Promoting the value of mail and encouraging its continued use is essential for jobs,
the economy, and the future of both the Postal Service and the mailing industry.
While increasing prices might have generated revenue for the Postal Service in the short term, the long term effect
could drive additional mail out of the system. We want mailers to continue to invest in mail to grow their business,
communicate with valued customers, and maintain a strong presence in the marketplace. Changes in pricing for our competitive
products-Priority Mail, Express Mail, Parcel Select, and most international products-are under consideration. We expect
to announce a decision in November.
We are committed to working
with customers to find ways to grow the mail through innovative incentives like the Summer Sale and contract pricing.
Mail is the most effective means of communication and advertising and we will continue to work together to increase the value
of the mail. Mail is a smart investment for the future.
The United States Postal Service announced it will delay implementation of the Standard Mail Move Update non-compliance charge from May 11 to January 4, 2010, in a notice filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission.
"Delaying implementation allows extra time to provide our Standard Mail customers with additional feedback from our new postage verification systems, but does not relieve mailers of their obligation to comply with the Move Update standard if they intend to claim automation or presort prices," said the USPS.
The new Move Update verification procedures will not be used to assess additional postage for First-Class Mail or Standard Mail at the time of mailing until January 2010. However, customers are still required to comply with the Move Update standards to qualify for automation or Presort prices.
This change will reduce Standard Mail revenue over the rest of 2009 by about $4.5 million, and decrease the percent increase for Standard Mail from 3.781% to 3.759%, according to the USPS.
For summaries and details of the changes, as well as downloadable rate tables, visit:
http://www.usps.com/prices/pricechanges.htm?from=prices&page=newshippingprices