Postal rate increases can have a big impact on your direct marketing budget. Keeping up with the latest information can save you from confusion and frustration down the line. In this post, we will review the latest U.S. Postal Service Mailing and Shipping rate changes—going into effect on January 21, 2018.
Overall, the new mailing rates represent an average price increase of 1.9 percent for all Market Dominant Mail products, including First-Class Mail®, Marketing Mail (previously Standard Mail), Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail® and Library Mail.
The 1-cent increase for single-piece stamped and metered letters maintains the current 3-cent discount for metered mail versus stamped mail.
First-Class Mail Rate Changes:
- First-Class Mail Stamped Letters (1 oz.): $0.49 to $0.50
- First-Class Mail Metered Letters (1 oz.): $0.46 to $0.47
- Domestic Postcards: $0.34 to $0.35
- First-Class Mail Flats (1 oz.): $0.98 to $1.00
Presort Mail Rate Changes:
The January 2018 rate change maintains many of the existing discounts available for Presort First-Class Mail. Overall prices for Presort Letter/Postcards increased 1.591 percent, but presorting to the five-digit ZIP code level remains 3 cents cheaper than sorting to the AADC level.
The price difference between Mixed AADC (MAADC) automation letters and AADC automation letters was reduced from 2 cents to 1.6 cents.
Rates for automated presort flats decreased by 1.6 cents, except for flats sorted to the five-digit level, where the discount was reduced to meet statutory requirements.
USPS is keeping the incentive that allows First-Class Presort mailers to send letters weighing up to 3 ounces for the same price as a 1-ounce letter.
It’s important to keep up-to-date with the latest USPS rate changes and increases when planning your next mailing. Download our FREE 2018 Postal Cheat Sheet for the most current design specification and postal rates.
If you have any questions about how the new prices may affect your company, contact your sales representative at SunDance for more information.
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