Postmaster General Louis DeJoy continues an aggressive pricing strategy despite concerns over volume losses.
The U.S. Postal Service is looking to raise rates for package and shipping services by around 6% next year, adding to the ongoing price hikes in the mail.
USPS will increase the cost of its Ground Advantage offering by 5.4%, Priority Mail by 5.7% and Priority Mail Express by 5.9%. Those products are part of the competitive side of its business—offering similar services to those offered by private shippers like UPS and FedEx—giving the agency more flexibility in its rate decisions than it maintains with its government-protected mail monopoly.
The Postal Service highlighted that its pricing is more transparent than that of its competition.
“The Postal Service continues to offer a great value in shipping,” USPS said. “Unlike some other shippers, the Postal Service has upfront pricing and does not add surcharges for residential and regular Saturday delivery, nor fuel. Also, the Postal Service offers convenient flat rate and cubic pricing options.”