This week, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) of further rate increases for market-dominant mail. The increases are due to take effect in July and represent an average additional increase close to 10% (9.758% for Outside County and 9.701% for In-County, with the underwater surcharge factored in). The USPS has increased postage rates twice a year over the last four years at levels well above the rate of inflation, leading to postal costs that are excessive and unsustainable for news and magazine publishers that rely on the postal system to deliver quality journalism to Americans.
These new rates – on top of rates increased earlier in the year – may put companies out of business. The News/Media Alliance is calling on Congress to question the Delivering for America Plan, which is costing billions of dollars.