The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will implement new postage rates on Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016, for several mail classes and special services. The increases do not affect the price of a one-ounce first-class letter, currently at 49 cents. Click here for a chart listing all rates.
Summary of the 2016 Postage Rate Increase:
Domestic Mailing:
• First Class Mail Letters (1 oz.) rates will not increase and will remain $0.49 when purchased at the Post Office. Each additional ounce will cost $0.22 (same as 2015).
• The discounted “Metered Mail” category for First Class Mail Letters (1 oz.), which includes online postage providers and postage meters, will not increase and will remain $0.485 in 2016. Each additional ounce will cost $0.22 (same as 2015).
• First Class Mail Flats (1 oz.) will not increase and will remain at $0.98 in 2016. Each additional ounce will cost $0.22 (same as 2015).
Postcard rates will not increase and will remain at $0.35 (same as 2015).
Domestic Shipping:
• Priority Mail Express will see an average rate increase of 15.6% in 2016. Additionally, the Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Box will be discontinued in 2016.
After three years without a shipping rate increase, Priority Mail will see an average rate increase of 9.4% in 2016. Additionally, Priority Mail Regional Rate Box C will be discontinued in 2016.
• First Class Package Service will see an average rate increase of 12.8% in 2016. Additionally, the maximum weight for First Class Package Service Commercial Base pricing (online postage) will be increased from 13 ounces to 15.99 ounces. Also, Commercial Plus pricing for First Class Package Service will be eliminated in 2016.
• Parcel Select Nonpresort (purchased online) will be renamed to Parcel Select Ground in 2016. Standard Post will be renamed Retail Ground in 2016.
International Shipping:
• Priority Mail Express International will see an average rate increase of 11.6% in 2016.
• Priority Mail International will see an average rate increase of 10.2% in 2016.
• First Class Package International Service will see an average rate increase of 21.6% in 2016.
Other USPS News:
• Click-N-Ship Pricing: Starting in 2016, Commercial Base Pricing (online discounts) will no longer be available for the Click-N-Ship program for shipping labels printed on USPS.com. All pricing for the Click-N-Ship program will be Post Office/Retail Rates.
• The U.S. Postal Service will discontinue the Critical Mail service in 2016.
