Just two weeks into the new year, and things are about to get a little pricier when dealing with the United States Postal Service.
The Postal Service announced back in November that it was recommending “new competitive” prices for this year, and that means that some services could see rate hikes as soon as Jan. 19.
The recommended changes are set to increase Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express services by 3.2 percent while USPS Ground Advantage is expected to be raised by 3.9 percent. The Parcel Select service is slated to increase by 9.2 percent.
The Postal Service said the increases are based on and adjusted by market conditions, and that it believes the new rates will keep it competitive while “providing the agency with needed revenue.”
“As we previously announced, the Postal Service will not be raising prices in January for our Mailing Services,” it said in a statement. “As a strategic part of the Delivering for America 10-year plan, these proposed changes will support the Postal Service in creating a revitalized organization capable of achieving our public service mission — providing a nationwide, integrated network for the delivery of mail and packages at least six days a week — in a cost-effective and financially sustainable manner of the long term, just as the U.S. Congress has intended.”
The Postal Service said on its site the rate changes will support $40 billion in investments in “people, technology, and infrastructure and continue the modernization and improvement of the Postal Service’s operations and customer experience.”