November 10, 2021

U.S. Postal Service Announces New Competitive Prices and Two New Mail Products for 2022

• Postal Service continues to offer some of the lowest letter-mail postage rates in the industrialized world and a great value in shipping as we enhance our reliability and expand our product offerings in service to the American people.

• Pricing actions part of balanced approach under “Delivering for America,” the Postal Service’s 10-year plan for achieving financial sustainability and service excellence.

• Rate changes will contribute to $40 billion of investments in people, technology, and infrastructure over the next 10 years to modernize and improve the Postal Service’s operations and customer experience.

• Postal Service is also supporting mail by requesting PRC approval for two mail products focused on local communities.

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Postal Service filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) today of price changes for Shipping Services to take effect Jan. 9, 2022.

The proposed prices, approved by the Postal Service Governors, would raise Shipping Services product prices approximately 3.1 percent for Priority Mail service, and 3.1 percent for Priority Mail Express service. Shipping Services price adjustments vary by product. Although Mailing Services price increases are based on the consumer price index, Shipping Services prices are primarily adjusted according to market conditions. The Governors believe these new rates will keep the Postal Service competitive while providing the agency with needed revenue.

If favorably reviewed by the PRC, the new prices will include an increase in the price of a Small Flat-Rate Box to $9.45. The Medium Flat-Rate Box would increase to $16.10, the Large Flat-Rate Box would decrease to $21.50 and the price of the APO/FPO Large Flat-Rate Box would decrease to $20.00. Regular Flat-Rate Envelopes, Legal Flat-Rate Envelopes, and Padded Flat-Rate Envelopes would increase to $8.95, $9.25, and $9.65 respectively. 

The proposed domestic Priority Mail Flat Rate Retail price changes are:

The Postal Service has some of the lowest letter-mail postage rates in the industrialized world and continues to offer a great value in shipping. Unlike some other shippers, the Postal Service does not add surcharges for residential delivery or regular Saturday delivery.

The PRC will review the prices before they are scheduled to take effect. The complete Postal Service price filings with prices for all products can be found on the PRC site under the Daily Listings section at prc.gov/dockets/daily. For the Shipping Services filing, see Docket No. CP2022-22. The price change tables are also available on the Postal Service’s Postal Explorer website at pe.usps.com/PriceChange/Index.

The filing also included pricing to support USPS Connect, a suite of affordable package delivery solutions for businesses that the Postal Service expects to launch in 2022, if favorably reviewed.

In addition, the Postal Service is also supporting mail by requesting approval for two mail products focused on local communities.  First, after a 2-year market test, the Postal Service is requesting the establishment of a permanent Plus One product which will provide additional marketing options for businesses to reach local customers utilizing mail.  Building on the USPS Connect pilot, the Postal Service is requesting approval for a market test for a new USPS Connect Local Mail product which will provide the ability to send documents within local communities for same/day next delivery.

With full implementation, the Postal Service’s 10-year Delivering For America plan is designed to reverse a projected $160 billion in operating losses over the next 10 years. The Plan’s growth and efficiency initiatives, including the proposed pricing changes, together with necessary legislation, should allow the Postal Service to make investments totaling approximately $40 billion over the next 10 years to modernize and improve our infrastructure to become more efficient and service responsive.

September 15, 2021

Postal Service Announces New Market Dominant

Price Adjustment Schedule

To help customers better prepare for a new Market Dominant price adjustment schedule, the Postal Service will not raise prices on Market Dominant products, including Forever stamps, in January 2022. Instead, the next Market Dominant price adjustment is scheduled to happen in July 2022.

Beginning January 2023, Market Dominant price adjustments will occur twice a year, (e.g. January 2023, July 2023, January 2024, July 2024, etc.). Market Dominant products include First-Class Mail (FCM), USPS Marketing Mail, Periodicals, Package Services* and Special Services.

July 2022 rate authority will include ten months of CPI plus retirement, density, and non-compensatory class authorities as determined by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC).  The January rate authority will include six months of CPI, plus any unused rate authority.  Subsequent July rate authority will include six months of CPI plus the retirement, density, and non-compensatory class authorities and any remaining unused rate authority.

The Postal Service has submitted an official statement reflecting the above schedule with the PRC. The statement gives estimated filing and implementation dates for future adjustments of each mail class over the next three years.

The Postal Service has some of the lowest letter mail postage rates in the industrialized world and also continues to offer a great value in shipping.

*Package services include Media Mail, Library Mail, and Bound Printed Matter.

August 23, 2021

 New AS 805 Information Security Policy and Cybersecurity Resources

     The U.S. Postal Service is replacing its current information security policy with a new cybersecurity policy aligned to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 27001 framework. This approach provides a flexible strategy that incorporates modern risk management process standards. 

      As a result, USPS will replace Handbook AS-805, “Information Security Policy,” with a single policy document and 13 handbooks written around security control categories. USPS Corporate Information Security Office is managing the replacement effort in collaboration with stakeholders across the enterprise, who are contributing their knowledge and expertise to create the policy and compose the handbooks.

      You can learn more about the USPS security protocols and standards by visiting the USPS CISO site on Postal Pro at: https://postalpro.usps.com/ciso or at this direct link to the AS805: https://about.usps.com/handbooks/as805/welcome.htm.

      In addition, with the recent rise in ransomware incidents and the need to strengthen cybersecurity in general, the Postal Service, in collaboration with industry subject matter experts, has developed a Security Advisory Council (SAC) as one of its subgroups under the Mailers Technical Advisory Committee. This subgroup works with USPS to develop security and privacy best practices that can be shared with the business mailing community to help better protect their enterprises and their customers.

      The SAC is providing two recent developments that provide resources to help educate public and private organizations on best cybersecurity practices:

Stop Ransomware  

     The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) published a new U.S. government interagency resource to help educate public and private organizations about the threats and response to Ransomware attacks. Stop Ransomware examines the threat of ransomware, mitigate risk, and in the event of an attack, know what steps to take next.

      The Stop Ransomware site offers ransomware protection, detection, and response guidance, including ransomware alerts, reports, and resources from CISA, the FBI, and other federal partners. Check out this great information at the https://StopRansomware.gov.

DTAC Publishes Cybersecurity Links 

The Delivery Technology Advocacy Council launched a website with a cybersecurity education links page. This new page features links to government and industry resources to help cybersecurity professionals stay apprised of the latest cybersecurity developments. Check out the more than 20 resources here: https://dtac.memberclicks.net/cyber-security.

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

INDUSTRY ALERT

July 30, 2021

Increase in Maximum Size Limit for Presorted First-Class Mail Postcards Approved

On July 28, the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) approved the proposal to increase the Maximum size limit for a Presorted or Automation First-Class Mail (FCM) postcard.  The new maximum size is 9 inches long by 6 inches high.  The piece will have a thickness of .009 to 0.016 and is eligible for the card size prices.  The change is effective August 29, 2021.

Mailers have told us that the available space for text on the current maximum size FCM postcard was too small to effectively communicate and promote, inform, and incorporate new technologies like those that our mailing promotions want to encourage (e.g., QR codes, textures, etc.). 

2021 USPS Holiday closures

Friday, January 1                                       New Year’s Day

Monday, January 18                                  Martin Luther King Jr. birthday

Monday, February 15                                Presidents’ Day

Monday, May 31                                         Memorial Day

Monday, July 5*                                          Independence Day

Monday, September 6                                 Labor Day

Monday, October 11                                   Columbus Day

Thursday, November 11                            Veterans Day

Thursday, November 25                            Thanksgiving Day

Saturday, December 25**                          Christmas Day

* July 4, 2021 (the legal public holiday for Independence Day), falls on a Sunday. For most Federal employees, Monday, July 5, will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes.
** December 25, 2021 (the legal public holiday for Christmas Day), falls on a Saturday. For most Federal employees, Friday, December 24, will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes.

Notes:
There is no regular mail delivery/pickup or retail services on Postal holidays
You cannot schedule Hold Mail or Redelivery to begin or end on the above holiday dates
Be sure to check with your local BME & Transportation offices regarding clerk coverage and mail pick-up in your area.