February 22, 2011 - 12:31 pm EDT
Washington, D.C.—The U.S. Postal Service's request for a postal rate increase in line with the rate of inflation has been approved, with new prices to go into effect April 17.
As approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission, first-class mail will still cost 44 cents for the first ounce, but heavier first-class letters will cost more, rising from 17 cents per additional ounce to 20 cents. Other rate boosts include bound printed matter parcels (0.7%); carrier route flats (1.4%); first class flats (3.8%); first-class mail to Canada (6.7%); high-density flats (0.4%); standard flats (0.8%); and standard parcels (11.3%).
Overall, postal rates will rise 1.7%. The postal service had requested these increases in January after an earlier request for a 5.6% rate hike was rejected by the PRC. That decision is being appealed.
