Toward Stabilizing the Single-Piece Rate in First-Class Mail

摘要

The U.S. Postal Services Board of Governors has recently directed that postal management prepare a new rate request. According to news reports, that request could be filed sometime this summer. If recommended by the independent Postal Rate Commission, the new rates could take effect in 2002. The Postal Services preparations for a new rate request reflect a deteriorating financial picture. The slowing economy is limiting the volume growth of household and business mail. The effect could be a loss of up to $3 billion in fiscal year 2001. As a result, the Postal Services rate request could seek up to a 10 percent increase in the price for the First-Class postage stamp, most commonly used by households on singlepiece mail. Rate increases upwards of 20 percent are possible for Periodicals and other classes of mail used by businesses.