The US Postal Service last month filed for an average 8.5% postal rate increase.
Among the planned increases are for Standard Mail, up 9%; Priority Mail, up 13.8%; Express Mail, up 12.5%; package services, up 13.4% and special services, up 11.2%. First-class mail will go up 7.1% to 42 cents from the current 39 cents.
“The Postal Service is not immune to the cost pressures affecting every household and business in America,” said Postmaster General John Potter in a statement.
Potter explained the pricing proposal “recognizes” underlying costs and market conditions and includes pricing initiatives to improve efficiency to keep rates “affordable for everyone.”
Jerry Cerasale, the Direct Marketing Association’s SVP, government affairs, railed against the increase in a statement. “Postal rate increases are never good news for organizations that rely on the mail to get their messages and packages out, and this latest increase would mean millions of extra dollars in costs for commercial mailers.”
From the June 01, 2006 Issue of MM+M - Medical Marketing and Media
