By Paula Brewer
Special to the Aroostook Republican
Postal customers will soon pay 3 cents more for a first-class stamp when new rates go into effect at the end of this month.
The U.S. Postal Service announced last fall it would raise first-class, single-piece mail rates from 46 to 49 cents on Jan. 26, a move which postal officials said was intended to generate $2 billion in incremental annual income.
The Postal Service has suffered financial woes in recent years, blamed in part on the prevalence of electronic communication. In a cost-saving measure last year, federal postal officials attempted to shut down Saturday mail delivery; the idea was later rescinded, at least temporarily. The proposal at the time sparked controversy, and even drew local protesters to demonstrate in front of the Caribou Post Office.
According to Melissa Lohnes of the USPS corporate communications office, the issue is still on hold for legislative action.
“The issue of five-day full mail delivery, with Saturday delivery of packages, remains an action item for both houses of Congress,” Lohnes said.
“The Postal Service cannot move forward with this change without their authorization, despite support of the public for our plan and the opportunity to save approximately $2.1 billion a year in overhead expenses with this strategy,” she added. “At this time, we have seen legislative discussion but no movement on this matter.”
When new Postal Service shipping prices take effect later this month, customers will see an overall price increase of 2.4 percent. Highlights of the new retail pricing for domestic Priority Mail Express products include $19.99 for retail flat-rate, padded flat-rate and legal flat-rate envelopes, and $44.95 for flat-rate boxes.
Domestic pricing for Priority Mail flat-rate products will have retail prices starting at $5.60, according to USPS officials. In addition, there will be a new delivery choice for domestic Priority Mail Express in 2014. Customers may send domestic Priority Mail Express packages to most locations in the U.S. by 10:30 a.m. for an extra $5 fee.
The Postal Regulatory Commission will review the prices before they become effective on Jan. 26.
