FIRST CLASS MAIL

Changes to First Class Mail

 

The new Shape-based Pricing, de-emphasizing weight, will produce the following changes:

  • 2 oz letter moves from 63 to 62 cents
  • 2 oz flat moves from 63 to 82 cents
  • 2 oz parcel moves from 63 cents to $1.20

USPS' shape initiative also affects workshare mail. The additional oz. rate for automation pieces is proposed to decrease from 23.7 cents to 15.5 cents for letters, and from 23.7 cents to 20 cents for pre-sorted letters, flats and parcels.

The USPS will introduce a new pre-sorted parcel category. This category will increase incentives for presorting parcels. Currently, there is only one pre-sort price at each weight increment, but the 2007 rate change will add new pre-sort rate tiers – 5 digit, 3 digit and ADC. Parcel pre-sorting requires a barcode, and if that is not possible for the customer, the rate adds a 5 cents surcharge.

The USPS will discontinue heavy piece discount and carrier route rates.

1st Class Rate Examples:

Letter
Weight
Current
Proposed
 
1 ounce
39¢
42¢
 
2 ounce
63¢
62¢
 
3 ounce
87¢
82¢

Flat
Weight
Current
Proposed
 
1 ounce
52¢
62¢
 
7 ounce
$1.83
$1.82
 
13 ounce
$3.27
$3.02

Parcel
Weight
Current
Proposed
 
1 ounce
52¢
$1.00
 
7 ounce
$1.83
$2.20
 
13 ounce
$3.27
$3.40

 
USPS' proposed May 2007 rate change will raise a first class letter price from 39 to 42 cents and a postcard rate will raise from 24 to 27 cents.