January 1, USPS Makes More Changes to Your Mail

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As Americans continue to battle rising inflation, the United States Postal Service is about to raise some of its prices.

Postal Service raises price of PO Boxes

The USPS sent a notice to certain Post Office (PO) Box holders earlier this month, informing them of a price change that takes effect on Jan. 22.

“Fees paid on or after that date are subject to new rates,” the USPS said.

PO Box rental rates vary significantly by location and the size of your mailbox, but they can start anywhere from $4.33 to $21.50 a month, with some people paying several times that, according to the USPS.

When the new prices kick in this month, certain customers could pay up to $367 for three months or $639 six months — meaning that some prices will increase by almost $40.

Another January price change approaches

PO Boxes aren’t the only USPS service seeing a price increase this month. The Postal Regulatory Commission approved the Postal Service’s proposal to increase its mailing and shipping costs for 2023.

A 4.2% increase for first-class mail, marketing mail, periodicals, package services, and special services kicks in on Jan. 22.

These changes also include:

• Three-cent increases for the price of First-Class Mail Forever Stamps and domestic letters
• Four-cent increase for domestic postcards
• Five-cent increase for international postcards and international letters

Shipping services are also getting more expensive on Jan. 22. Priority Mail services will increase by 5.5%, Priority Mail Express by 6.6%, and First-Class Packages by 7.8%.

Postmaster General defends price hikes

In August, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said he believes the USPS needs to make “more aggressive” pricing changes in order to avoid further financial hurdles driven by inflation.

DeJoy has pushed for twice-a-year rate increases at the maximum percentages allowed by law, according to Linn’s Stamp News.

“The Postal Service has been severely damaged by at least 10 years of a defective pricing model,” he told the outlet. “We need to use our authority to adjust market dominant product pricing as part of our Delivering for America plan to become self-sustaining, as required by law.”

Sources: ECommerce Bytes | Linn’s Stamp News | USPS