The U.S. Postal Service has proposed a temporary, holiday shipping rate increase to start on Sunday, October 18, 2020 and end on Sunday, December 27, 2020. Subject to approval by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), the proposed USPS holiday rate increase will impact five specific mail classes for shippers using Commercial Base pricing – Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, First Class Package Service, Parcel Select and Parcel Return Service. There will be no holiday rate increase for customers who purchase postage at the Post Office (retail).
The USPS has stated the temporary price increases are due to higher expenses related to the coronavirus pandemic and increased demand in holiday e-commerce activity.
Listed below are the proposed 2020 USPS holiday rate increases for customers buying postage online:
Priority Mail Express – 2020 Holiday Shipping Rate Increase (Commercial Base)
Priority Mail Express will see an average increase of 4.4%, with some cells going as high as 6.59% (0.5 lb., zone 1/2). Lower weights under 4 lbs. traveling to zones 1-4 have larger rate increases by percentage. A 1 lb. package going to Zone 8 using Priority Mail Express will cost $39.55 in the 2020 holiday period (October 18 through December 27, 2020), compared to $38.05 currently.
Priority Mail Express Flat Rate – 2020 Holiday Shipping Rates (Commercial Base)
All three options (regular, legal and padded) of Priority Mail Express Flat Rate envelopes are increasing by $1.50 per shipment in the 2020 holiday period (October 18 through December 27, 2020).
Priority Mail – 2020 Holiday Shipping Rate Increase (Commercial Base)
Priority Mail will see an average increase of 4.2%, with some cells going as high as 5.70% (1 lb., zone 1/2). Lower weights under 3 lbs. traveling to zones 1-5 have larger rate increases by percentage. A 1 lb. package going to Zone 8 using Priority Mail will cost $8.82 in the 2020 holiday period (October 18 through December 27, 2020), compared to $8.42 currently.
Priority Mail Regional Rate – 2020 Holiday Shipping Rate Increase (Commercial Base)
Priority Mail Regional Rate prices are increasing by $0.40 per shipment. A 1 lb. package going to Zone 8 using Priority Mail Regional Rate Box A will cost $12.50 in the 2020 holiday period (October 18 through December 27, 2020), compared to $12.10 currently.
Priority Mail Flat Rate- 2020 Holiday Shipping Rate Increase (Commercial Base)
All Priority Mail Flat Rate envelopes (regular, legal and padded) and boxes (small, medium and large) are increasing by $0.40 in the 2020 holiday period (October 18 through December 27, 2020).
First Class Package Service – 2020 Holiday Shipping Rate Increase (Commercial Base)
First Class Package Service will see an average increase of 7.0%, with some cells going as high as 9.12% (one ounce, zone 1/2). Lower weights under 4 ounces traveling to zones 1-5 have larger rate increases by percentage. A 15.999 ounce. package going to Zone 8 using First Class Package Service will cost $5.95 in the 2020 holiday period (October 18 through December 27, 2020), compared to $5.70 currently.
Parcel Select Ground – 2020 Holiday Shipping Rate Increase
Parcel Select Ground will see an average increase of 3.0%, with some cells going as high as 5.78% (1 lb., zone 1/2). Lower weights under 5 lbs. traveling to zones 1-5 have larger rate increases by percentage. A 1 lb. package going to Zone 8 using Parcel Select Ground will cost $8.52 in the 2020 holiday period (October 18 through December 27, 2020), compared to $8.12 currently.
