As you probably heard, the United States Postal Service is changing their prices again. 

The new rates will take effect on January 22nd, 2018.

The new prices include a one-cent increase of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp from 49 cents to 50 cents. The same one-cent increase will affect the Postcard stamps and metered letters.

The new rates will increase Mailing Services product prices approximately 1.9 percent, and most Shipping Services products will average a 3.9 percent price increase. While Mailing Services price increases are limited based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), Shipping Services prices are adjusted strategically, according to market conditions and the need to maintain affordable services for customers, according to the USPS® article.

In regards to the marketing mail price change, the most significant point that needs to be considered is the shrinking of the rate gap for the drop shipment between Sectional Center Facility (SCF) and Network Distribution Center (NDC), due to the miscalculation back in 2016. For example, the SCF-entered letter size Marketing Mail will see an increase of nearly 2% while the NDC-entered one will increase by only 1.2%.

Refer to the tables below for key changes. Increased rates are shown in Red. The rates which remain the same or goes down are in dark grey.

Key First-Class single-piece prices

First-Class Single Piece Key Changes

Key First-Class presorted rates (automation)

First-Class Presorted  Key Changes

Key USPS Marketing Mail rates (automation)

Marketing Mail (Standard)  Key Changes

The rates above are for Automation preparation, Pieces entered at the origin. EDDM Retail goes up only one thousand of a penny from 0.177 to 0.178

Don't forget the major change from last year: the increase piece-price weight break for the marketing flats from 3.3 oz to 4 oz and marketing letters from 3.3 oz to 3.5 oz! The extra weight will allow for including additional materials which will add value to the marketing package.

Key USPS Marketing Mail Non-profit rates (automation)

Marketing Mail Non-profit rates  Key Changes

USPS Postal Rates Effective January 22nd 2018 Cheat Sheet

To estimate the cost of your Direct Mail Campaign, check our Direct Mail Price Calculator

Copy or Print The Latest Postal Rates Changes (2018). http://bit.ly/2DhzLyq
Milena Marguenski
Milena is the owner and CEO of US Presort.
US Presort | 3801 Victory Blvd., Suite 1 - Staten Island, NY 10314 | P : 718.980.6556