Since 2021, USPS has treated its expanded pricing authority under the Modified Ratemaking System as a green light for twice-a-year increases in Market Dominant products like First-Class Mail, Marketing Mail, and Media Mail. Nearly all available authority was exhausted each time, leaving shippers scrambling to keep up with constant changes.
The PRC has finally stepped in to give shippers some relief with this new rule ordering that USPS may not file more than one above‑de‑minimis rate increase of general applicability per fiscal year for Market Dominant products, from March 1, 2026 through September 30, 2030.
According to the rule, USPS still has some wiggle room to make tiny “de minimis” increases (less than 0.001% at the class level), and in truly “extraordinary or exceptional circumstances” it can still seek an exigent increase under separate statutory authority, but that is a high bar to meet.
