Complete Story
06/11/2024
Increase in Mailing Prices
Source: Quadient, USPS, June 11, 2024
Below is a guide to the major rate changes from the U.S. Postal Service and tips to reduce the impact.
Proposed price changes are effective July 14, 2024.
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 over the long term.
• Stamps Will Increase Nearly 7%
The retail price of a stamp will increase 5 cents to 73¢ from 68¢. If your company uses stamps or purchases postage directly at the Post Office, this price hike will significantly impact your bottom line. Don't miss out on a 5% meter discount!
- New Stamp Price: 73¢
- New Discounted Meter Price: 69¢
Using a meter gets you the discount on postage, which really adds up annually. Going to the post office is costing you time and money.
• Metered Rates Will Increase 5 Cents
Metered postage rates for First-Class letters will go up 5 cents per letter to 69 cents.
- Previous Meter Price: 64¢
- New Meter Price: 69¢
It's more important than ever to make sure all of your postage is updated regularly. Rates can change once or twice each year, and even seasonally.
• Certified Mail® with Return Receipt is More Expensive
The Certified Mail fee will increase an additional 50 cents per mail piece, while Return Receipt will increase by 55 cents (hard copy). The silver lining: With an electronic Return Receipt, you’ll save $1.48 on every Certified Mail piece.
- Certified Mail fee: from $4.35 to $4.85
- Return Receipt (hard copy) cost: from $3.55 to $4.10
- Return Receipt (electronic) cost: from $2.20 to $2.62
It is recommended you use electronic Return Receipt. You can upgrade your entire process with a digital workflow and save when you send Certified Mail with Electronic Return Receipt using an online solution like e-Certify.
• It's Time to Think About Presort Prices
With the right mail volume, you can take advantage of the USPS presort discounts. First-Class presorted postage will increase nearly 4 cents, but sorting invoices, bills and statements by zip code is still advantageous and cost-effective. Now might be the time to make it part of your mail prep process.
- Presort pricing: $0.545 (5- Digit Automation Letter - 1 oz.)
- Presort postcards: $0.560 (Postcard Machinable Presorted)
• Let's Not Forget Shipping Rates
The shipping prices of the three primary carriers, USPS®, FedEx®, and UPS®, have all increased in January 2024. Here's a list of the rate increases this summer:
- Parcel Select® service: +25%
- No price increases are being proposed for USPS Ground Advantage, as well as Priority Mail® and Priority Mail Express® services.
Using Priority Mail flat rate envelopes is still the most affordable way to ship. Shipping rates are on the rise, but rate shopping is one of the best ways to help save your budget. You can rate shop, compare pricing and get discounts all year long with shipping software. In fact, you can save up to 47% on Priority Mail costs.
The Postal Service continues to offer USPS Ground Advantage™ – a ground shipping solution that provides a simple, reliable, and affordable way to ship packages across the continental U.S. with 2-5 day certain delivery based on distance. USPS Ground Advantage offers $100 insurance included in the price, as well as free pickup on the carrier’s route.
