On September 5, 2024, the United States Postal Service (USPS) announced a planned postage rate increase for this year’s holiday season. Read on to learn how the increase would affect you, why the price hike has been proposed, and how you can combat USPS postage rate increases in the future.
Understanding the price hike trends
Following the trend of last year’s price adjustments, the U.S. Postal Service is once again gearing up for a holiday season rate increase, effective from October 6, 2024, through January 19, 2025.
USPS holiday planned price hike:
What you need to know
The governors of the Postal Service have already approved the planned temporary peak-season pricing on August 8. The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) is now reviewing the proposed price hike. Pending a favorable review by the PRC, the temporary price hike will go into effect at midnight Central on October 6, 2024, and will remain in place until midnight Central on January 19, 2025.
USPS price hike:
What will be affected?
The planned price hike will include the following adjustments:
Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage: Zone 1-4
Commercial:
- 30 cents increase for 0-3 pounds
- 45 cents increase for 4-10 pounds
- 75 cents increase for 11-25 pounds
- $3.00 increase for 26-70 pounds
Priority Mail: Zones 5-9
- 70 cents increase for 0-3 pounds
- $1.25 increase for 4-10 pounds
- $2.75 increase for 11-25 pounds
- $7.00 increase for 26-70 pounds
USPS Ground Advantage: Zones 5-9
- 35 cents increase for 0-3 pounds
- 75 cents increase for 4-10 pounds
- $1.25 increase for 11-25 pounds
- $5.50 increase for 26-70 pounds
Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage: Zone 1-4
Retail:
- 40 cents increase for 0-3 pounds
- 55 cents increase for 4-10 pounds
- 95 cents increase for 11-25 pounds
- $4.00 increase for 26-70 pounds
Priority Mail Zone 5-9
- 90 cents increase for Zones 5-9, 0-3 pounds
- $1.45 cents increase for Zones 5-9, 4-10 pounds
- $3.25 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 pounds
- $8.50 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 pounds
USPS Ground Advantage Zone 5-9
- 50 cents increase for 0-3 pounds
- $1.00 cents increase for 4-10 pounds
- $2.00 increase for 11-25 pounds
- $5.85 increase for 26-70 pounds
Priority Mail Express
Commercial:
- $1.00 increase for Zones 1-4, 0-3 pounds
- $1.75 increase for Zones 5-9, 0-3 pounds
- $1.50 increase for Zones 1-4, 4-10 pounds
- $3.95 increase for Zones 5-9, 4-10 pounds
- $3.50 increase for Zones 1-4, 11-25 pounds
- $7.50 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 pounds
- $8.95 increase for Zones 1-4, 26-70 pounds
- $13.00 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 pounds
Retail:
- $1.10 increase for Zones 1-4, 0-3 pounds
- $2.00 increase for Zones 5-9, 0-3 pounds
- $2.00 increase for Zones 1-4, 4-10 pounds
- $4.85 increase for Zones 5-9, 4-10 pounds
- $3.90 increase for Zones 1-4, 11-25 pounds
- $9.00 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 pounds
- $9.75 increase for Zones 1-4, 26-70 pounds
- $16.00 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 pounds
Why is USPS planning another price hike?
This seasonal adjustment is part of USPS' 10-year plan, Delivering for America. Delivering for America is the initiative to return the USPS to financial stability and reverse about $160 billion in operating losses. The rate adjustment is also touted as a way to keep USPS competitive while providing the agency with the revenue to cover extra costs in anticipation of peak-season volume.
Shipping software:
Your solution to rising postage rate prices
Postage rate increases are becoming the norm. To combat the price increases from USPS, a solution that can help lower your USPS shipping rates is discounted shipping software. Shipping software like Zenventory saves you money by getting you access to the lowest cost commercial rates with USPS.
Click here to learn more about how shipping software can help you.