Postage Price Increase - Stamp Prices Going Up January 27, 2013

On January 27, 2013 the U.S. Postal Service® will implement a postage rate increase for all mail classes including First Class Mail®, Priority Mail and Express Mail along with many special services. Summary of the 2013 USPS postage rate increase:

• First Class Letters (1 oz.) will increase by one cent to $0.46 from $0.45. Each additional ounce will cost an extra $0.20 (no change)

• First Class Flats (1 oz.) will increase by two cents to $0.92 from $0.90. Each additional ounce will cost an extra $0.20 (no change)

• Postcard rates will increase by one cent to $0.33 from $0.32

• Priority Mail Commercial Base (online postage) rates will increase by an average of 6.3% and will start at $5.05 (previously at $4.90)

• Express Mail Commercial Base (online postage) rates will increase by an average of 5.8% and will start at $13.09 (previously at $12.85)

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• First Class Mail International packages will be renamed First Class Package International Service. The service now includes Commercial Base discounts of up to 10% off retail rates. It will also include free electronic USPS Delivery Confirmation International for packages being delivered to Canada

• Parcel Post is being renamed Standard Post and will only be available for purchase at the Post Office

• Parcel Select is replacing Parcel Post for online postage vendors and will now include free Delivery Confirmation

• Express Mail International insurance coverage will be increased to $200 from $100. The coverage is included for free

• For Priority Mail International Flat Rate service, a special rate will be offered for delivery service to Canada. Mexico is now included with "all other countries"

• New Product! A Global Forever Stamp is being introduced to send a one ounce letter or postcard to any country in the world for $1.10

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How much are prices going up?

A. The overall price change for all Shipping Services is 9 percent, with Express Mail prices increasing an average 5.8 percent and Priority Mail prices increasing an average 6.3 percent.

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Q. When will the new prices take effect?

A. Sunday, January 27, 2013, at 12:01 a.m. EST.

Q. Why are Shipping Services prices going up?

A. The Postal Service adjusts its shipping prices annually just as other shipping companies do. Unlike other shippers, the Postal Service doesn't add surcharges for fuel or for residential or Saturday delivery.

Q. What role does the Postal Regulatory Commission play in the Shipping Service price adjustments?

A. The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) reviews the prices before they become effective on January 27, 2013. By law, each product must cover its attributable costs. As a group, Postal Service Shipping Services products must contribute 5.5 percent of the Postal Service's institutional costs.

Q. What are the new retail prices for Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes and Envelopes?

Small box - $5.80.

Medium box - $12.35.

Large box - $16.85.

Large APO/FPO/DPO box - $14.85.

Regular envelope - $5.60.

Legal envelope - $5.75.

Padded envelope - $5.95.

Q. What is the new price for an Express Mail Flat Rate Envelope?

A. The retail price for the domestic Express Mail Flat Rate Envelope, Express Mail Padded Flat Rate Envelope and Express Mail Legal Flat Rate Envelope will be $19.95 in January 2013.

Q. What new products and services will be available when the prices change in January?

A. The PRC approved the transfer of Parcel Post from the competitive product list to the market dominant product list and it has been renamed Standard Post. Also, the Postal Service will be offering free USPS Tracking/Delivery Confirmation with all of our competitive parcels, including retail Priority Mail and Standard Post. Also new for January 2013, customers shipping Critical Mail letters and flats will have the option of receiving a signature upon delivery as part of a new service offering.

Q. What is Standard Post?

A. Standard Post is the new name for Parcel Post. Standard Post is very similar to Parcel Post of the past, except it is now strictly a retail product — payment is by stamps or meter and Standard Post is deposited at the retail counter or picked up by Package Pickup. It will no longer appear on postage statements. Standard Post parcels will receive free tracking visibility just as the other competitive product list parcels do.

Q. What if I ship packages to U.S. military personnel serving overseas?

A. The Military Care Kit and special pricing make it easy to send care packages to loved ones stationed overseas. The Postal Service is the only way to ship directly to APO, FPO, and DPO addresses.

The Military Care Kit includes Priority Mail tape, Priority Mail address labels, appropriate customs forms, two Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Boxes, and two Priority Mail APO/FPO/DPO Large Flat Rate Boxes. With the January 27, 2013, price change, the Priority Mail APO/FPO/DPO Large Flat Rate Box is priced at $14.85, two dollars less than the Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box retail price at $16.85.

Q. Where can customers get the Military Care Kit?

A. To order the kit, call 1-800-610-8734.

Q. What is the overall average increase for each domestic Shipping Services product and service?

Express Mail – 5.8 percent.

Priority Mail – 6.3 percent.

Parcel Select – 9.0 percent.

Parcel Return Service – 4.8 percent.

First-Class Package Service — 3.0 percent.

Standard Post – 21 percent.

Premium Forwarding Service –10.5 percent increase (only weekly reshipment prices increase).

Address Enhancements Services – 3.7 percent to 17.7 percent, depending on the service.

Competitive Post Office Box Service – 2.6 percent.