NOTE: Visit here for information on the 2009 postage rate increase.

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The United States Postal Service will be adjusting their postage rates on all mail classes on May 12, 2008. 

The rate increase is in accordance with the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, which is the regulation of how the USPS adjusts their rate to compete fairly in the marketplace. 

In a nutshell, the adjustment is based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the USPS states that all rate adjustments are at or below the rate of inflation.

Here is a recap of the new postage rates:

• The single-piece First-Class first ounce rate will rise to $0.42 for letters, $0.27 for cards, $0.83 for flats, and $1.17 for parcels. 
• The first ounce auto 5-d rate will be $0.324 for letters, $0.364 for flats, and $0.711 for parcels.
• For Standard Mail, the minimum per-piece rate for letters (auto 5-d, origin entry) will be $0.225 and $0.339 for flats.

If you want a PDF with full details, please visit:

http://pe.usps.com/2008_RateCase/Notice123/Notice123.pdf

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We came across a snippet of postal information in DM News today and felt it was important to add a quick post to our blog about it.

 Here it is word for word:

“The USPS issued a statement last week which ensures the earliest a new rate case will take effect is March 27. It confirmed the next price change will use the new CPI-capped* rules, adding that mailers will be given at least 90 days’ notice before changes are implemented. USPS Governors will decide when the next change will occur. Future changes will occur annually, on a predictable schedule.”

As soon as we hear about a definite date in 2008 for this new rate case, we’ll add the information to this blog.

*Consumer Price Index

The Nonprofit Times recently reported that the USPS will not be pushing forward with a rate case to increase postal fees for nonprofits.

Instead, the USPS’s Board of Governors voted to proceed with the new pricing regulations set by the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006, which caps future price increases at the rate of inflation.

The USPS will now measure its annual price increases according to the seasonally-adjusted Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all urban consumers.

To read the story in full, please visit:

http://www.nptimes.com/07Nov/news-071119-1.html