PRC Approves USPS Postal Rate Increases For 2019
This week the Postal Regulatory Commission issued Orders 4875 and 4876 approving the Postal Service’s planned rate adjustments for both Market Dominant products and Competitive products respectively.
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READ MORE: USPS Announces Price Changes for 2019
Rate increases for Market Dominant products must meet certain statutory and regulatory requirements, the most prominent of which is that such increases be no greater than the rate of inflation, as determined by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers.
Also, the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act requires, among other things, that rates for Competitive products must produce sufficient revenues to ensure they are not subsidized by Market Dominant products.
The Commission found that the rates for both classes of mail meet all statutory requirements and may take effect, January 27, 2019, as planned.
The Commission also found that the planned classification changes, with the revisions set forth in Orders 4875 and 4876, are consistent with applicable law.
USPS First Class Mail Increases
| Product | Old Rate | New Rate |
| Forever Stamp | 50 cents | 55 cents |
| Metered Stamp | 47 cents | 50 cents |
| Additional Ounce | 21 cents | 15 cent |
USPS Priority Mail Increases
| Product: Priority Mail | Old Rate | New Rate |
| Retail Small Flat Rate Box | $7.20 | $7.90 |
| Retail Medium Retail Flat Rate Box | $13.65 | $14.35 |
| Retail Large Flat Rate Box | $18.90 | $19.95 |
| Retail Large Flat Rate Box APO/FPO/DPO | $17.40 | $18.45 |
| Retail Regular Flat Rate Envelope | $6.70 | $7.35 |
| Retail Legal Size Flat Rate Envelopes | $7.00 | $7.65 |
| Retail Padded Flat Rate Envelopes | $7.25 | $8.00 |
For sellers, key part to remember is that these are USPS retail rates normally charged at post offices.
USPS Priority Mail rates offered by marketplaces and shipping management providers may be lower, but will see similar increases.
And as a reminder, effective date is January 27, 2019.
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Richard Meldner
Richard is co-founder of eSeller365. He has over 17 years of experience on eBay which includes tens of thousands of sales to buyers in over 100 countries and even has experience with eBay’s VeRO program enforcing intellectual property rights for a former employer. And for about two years Richard sold products on Amazon using Amazon FBA in the US.
To “relax” from the daily business grind, for a few weekends a year, he also works for IMSA as a professional race official.