Postal: Rates Hikes Will Follow Reform Bill

Catalogers and heavy mailers can breath a sigh of relief because officials state that postal rate increases will now follow the Postal Reform bill passed 11 months ago. The U.S. Postal Service's Board of Governors announced that future price increases will be tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), or rate of inflation, for mailing services that include First Class, Standard Mail, and periodicals.
The BOG said future prices would be adjusted using new regulations issued by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) on Oct. 29. The board's decision is consistent with the Postal Reform and Accountability Act, which calls for a rate-increase cap that ties future postage increases at or below the rate of inflation. It also has strict criteria regarding conditions for
emergency rate increases.