According to the United States Postal Service (USPS) announcement released on August 8th and updated on August 19th, postal rates will be temporarily adjusted for the upcoming holiday season. The new rates will take effect starting midnight on October 5th and will continue until midnight on January 18, 2026, Central Time.
This adjustment aims to share the additional processing costs and ensure smooth operations during the peak season. The Postal Regulatory Commission approved this rate adjustment on August 7th.
The rate increases will affect Priority Mail Express (PME), Priority Mail (PM), USPS Ground Advantage, and Parcel Select services. Other products and services offered by USPS will not be impacted.
USPS emphasized that this action is a strategic part of its ten-year plan to revitalize the agency, aligning retail and commercial customer prices with competitive market practices. The agency highlighted that their postage rates are among the lowest globally, offering valuable shipping services.
Postal rates are divided into nine zones based on the destination area, ranging from Zone 1 (closest to the origin) to Zone 9 (farthest from the origin). The postage amount depends on the distance the package is being delivered.
For Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage in Zones 1-4:
– 0-3 pounds: increase by $0.40
– 4-10 pounds: increase by $0.60
– 11-25 pounds: increase by $0.95
– 26-70 pounds and oversized: increase by $3.00
For Priority Mail in Zones 5-9:
– 0-3 pounds: increase by $0.90
– 4-10 pounds: increase by $1.45
– 11-25 pounds: increase by $3.25
– 26-70 pounds: increase by $7.00
For Priority Mail Express in various zones, the rates vary based on weight and destination distance, with increases ranging from $1.10 to $16.00, depending on the zone and weight.
The USPS Ground Advantage rates for Zones 5-9 and other services like Parcel Select will also see rate adjustments within different weight ranges.
The USPS last adjusted its rates on January 21, 2024, with the previous adjustment taking place on July 9, 2023.