As the busiest holiday season draws near, the United States Postal Service (USPS) gets ready to raise the prices of all its parcel deliveries. To make its prices competitive compared to the market price during high demand times, these changes depend on the Postal Regulatory Commission’s (PRC) approval. The new tariff will come into force on October 6, 2024, and stay until January 19, 2025, if it receives approval.
Commercial Shipping Price Changes
Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage are among various USPS shipping choices receiving price increases that will impact commercial clients. The increases vary according to the weight of packages and the delivery zone, which is determined by how far apart the sender and recipient are.
For instance, packages weighing 0–3 lbs shipped within Zones 1-4 will have a slight increase of $0.30, while those weighing 26–70 lbs in the same zone will experience a greater increase of $3.00. In cases of longer distances, i.e., within Zones 5-9, price increases go from $0.70 for 0-3 lb packages to an extent of $7.00 for heavier shipments weighing up to 70 lbs.
Moreover, USPS Ground Advantage will also face analogous price boosts, with package prices rising from $0.35 to $5.50 depending on weight and delivery zone.
Retail Shipping Price Adjustments
There will also be some price adjustments for the shipping packages of retail customers. These increases are slightly higher compared to those for commercial customers. For 0-3 lb parcels sent within Zones 1-4, the cost will go up by $0.40. Meanwhile, those weighing 26-70 lbs will see a rise of $4.00 in their price.
For parcels being sent to Zones from 5-9, the ranges are between $0.90 and $8.50 depending on how small or big they are, respectively. Just like the commercial service, USPS Ground Advantage retail customers will also experience price hikes that range from $0.50 to $5.85 based on dimensions and zones, respectively.
Priority Mail Express Increases
Price increases are most noticeable in the USPS Priority Mail Express services, which are always faster. For small packages (0-3 lbs.) shipped within Zones 1-4, commercial service rates will be increased by $1.00, while for their heavier counterparts, from 26 to 70 lbs., they’ll pay an additional fee of $8.95. Longer distances to Zones 5-9 will cost between $1.75 and $13.00 for different weights of similar packages.
Retail Priority Mail Express services will also be affected by these changes, with price increments varying from $1.10 for smaller parcels to even sweet sixteen dollars upwards for lumpy ones delivered into remote areas.
Peak season timing and approval process
The temporary price increases have already been endorsed by the governors of the Postal Service. However, they must still be reviewed by the PRC. If there are no objections, the new prices will come into effect at midnight CT on October 6, 2024. These elevated prices will last until January 19, 2025, to cater for the peak shipping season during holidays.
These changes in rates are important for USPS to remain competitive in the shipping industry, particularly during this period when package volumes rise dramatically due to festive seasons. Further, it stressed that other shipping services omitted from these price adjustments are not going to be influenced.
Adjusted Delivery Times Expected
Moreover, it was announced by USPS that some of its customers would have their delivery times changed in August for the second time, in addition to this increase in prices. Customers who reside within a radius of 50 miles from either one of the agency’s highest processing centers may notice that their letters arrive at a faster rate, but rural dwellers will believe they are being treated unfairly as the service becomes slower and slower.
Following requests for clarification made about these particular changes, USPS denied any possibility that there would be changes to the time frames provided for mailings made in the year 2023 or for delivery schedules during the peak season.
The adjustment of delivery time along with an increment in prices generally reflects USPS’s strategy in managing costs and enhancing service efficiency to cope with one of its busiest seasons throughout the year.
