Businesses that rely on direct mail touchpoints will have to shift strategies and keep options open.
The USPS announced several cost-cutting measures earlier in 2021, including a decade-long strategic plan meant to modernize operations and increase postal rates. The proposed changes had been in the works for some time now, but they’re finally here. The Postal Regulatory Commission approved the price hike to take effect on August 29, 2021.
The changes force a raise in overall “market-dominant” products and services — such as direct mail[amsive_tooltip term=”direct-mail”] letters and postcards — by an average of approximately 6.9 percent, while First-Class Mail prices would increase by 6.8 percent to offset the USPS’ declining revenue due to First-Class Mail volume declines.
A quick breakdown of the updated pricing can be found below:
| Product | Current Price | New Price |
| Letters (1 oz) | 55 cents | 58 cents |
| Letters additional ounce(s) | 20 cents | (Unchanged) |
| Letters (metered 1 oz) | 51 cents | 53 cents |
| Domestic Postcards | 36 cents | 40 cents |
| Flats (1 oz) | $1.00 | $1.16 |
| Outbound International Letters (1 oz) | $1.20 | $1.30 |
| Non-Saturation Letters (ads, solicitations) | 21.2 cents | 22.6 cents |
| Non-Saturation Flats (catalogs) | 31 cents | 33.9 cents |
| Saturation Letters (coupons | 16.1 cents | 16.5 cents |
| Saturation Flats (flyers, coupons) | 17 cents | 17.5 cents |
For more information, visit the USPS site. For further price breakdowns, including the new postage rates with presorting and destination discounts, Amsive’s got you covered here for your reference.
That said, most marketers and decision-makers[amsive_tooltip term=”decision-maker”] may be thinking: what does the USPS rate increase mean for your business? We’re here to help facilitate the most efficient, cost-effective campaigns, and the most relevant solutions for you.
Please do not hesitate to reach out today.
