The USPS has filed a notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission containing proposed price changes that will take effect on January 22, 2023.
These proposed prices include a three-cent increase in First-Class Mail Forever stamps from 60 cents to 63 cents as part of an overall 4.2% increase in First-Class Mail to offset the rise in inflation. These price increases have been approved by the Governors of the USPS and are now waiting for review and approval by the PRC.
Below are details of the increased rates proposed for specific products.
| Product | Current Price | Proposed Price |
| Letters (stamped 1 oz.) | $0.60 | $0.63 |
| Letters (metered 1 oz.) | $0.57 | $0.60 |
| Domestic Postcards | $0.44 | $0.48 |
| International Postcards | $1.40 | $1.45 |
| International Letter (1 oz.) | $1.40 | $1.45 |
Additionally, Marketing Mail has a proposed rate increase of 2–11%, depending on the mailings. We anticipate an average 4% increase across all Marketing Mail but will adjust this as more details become available.
To help mitigate any increase in postage costs, however, the USPS will be offering six promotional discounts again in 2023. These include, Reply Mail IMbA™, Retargeting Mail, Emerging & Advanced Technology, Informed Delivery, Personalized Color Transpromo, and Tactile, Sensory, and Interactive Engagement. Changes from last year’s promotions include:
Mobile Shopping has been combined with Emerging & Advanced Technology
Emerging & Advanced Technology has been extended from 6 to 7 months
The tiered discount for Emerging & Advanced Technology will increase from 2–3% to 3–4%
Personalized Color Transpromo that does not include Courtesy Reply Mail or Business Reply Mail will receive an increase in discount from 2% to 3%, while Transpromo mail that includes Courtesy Reply Mail or Business Reply Mail will receive a 4% discount
Tactile, Sensory, and Interactive Engagement will receive an increase in discount from 4% to 5%
The new Reply Mail IMbA™ promotion will offer a 3% discount
The new Retargeting Mail promotion will offer a 5% discount
|
Promotion |
Description |
Eligibility |
Discount |
Promotion and Registration Dates |
|
Tactile, Sensory, and Interactive |
Encourages mailers to enhance customer engagement through innovations in paper and stock, substrates, inks, interactive elements, and finishing techniques. |
Marketing Mail letters and flats; First-Class Mail letters, cards, and flats |
5% |
Registration: Dec 15, 2022–Feb 1, 2023 Promotion: Feb 1–July 31 |
|
Emerging and Advanced Technology |
Encourages mailers to incorporate emerging technologies such as Mobile Shopping, Enhanced Augmented Reality (AR), and Basic Integration with Voice Assistant (eligible for 3% discount) or Video in Print, NFC, Virtual Reality (VR)/Mixed Reality (MR), and Advanced Integration with Voice Assistant (eligible for 4% discount). |
Marketing Mail letters and flats; First-Class Mail letters, cards, and flats |
3–4% |
Registration: Mar 15–May 1 Promotion: May 1–Nov 30 |
|
Reply Mail IMbA™ |
Encourages mailers to use static or serialized IMbA and will require mailers to enroll to participate. |
First-Class Mail presort and automation letters |
3% for static IMbA 6% for serialized IMbA |
Registration: May 15–Jul 1 Promotion: Jul 1–Dec 31 |
|
Personalized Color Transpromo |
Enhances the value of First-Class Mail by encouraging mailers of bills and statements to incorporate color marketing messaging to improve connection to and response from customers. |
Qualifying First-Class Mail presort and automation letters that include bills and statements |
3% for mail that does not include Courtesy Reply Mail or Business Reply Mail 4% for mail that includes Courtesy Reply Mail or Business Reply Mail |
Registration: Dec 15, 2022–Feb 1, 2023 Promotion: Feb 1–Jul 31 |
|
Informed Delivery |
Encourages mailers to use USPS’ Informed Delivery omni-channel feature. Participants must create Informed Delivery campaigns that incorporate best practices and techniques. |
Qualifying automation Marketing Mail letters and flats; qualifying automation First-Class Mail letters, cards, and flats |
4% on campaigns 0.5% incentive for mailers |
Registration: June 15–Aug 1 Promotion: Aug 1–Dec 31 |
|
Retargeting |
Encourages mailers to send automation postcards mailed in connection with website or app behavior. This requires preapproval prior to participation. |
Qualifying First-Class Mail automation postcards |
5% |
Registration: July 15–Sep 1 Promotion: Sept 1–Nov 30 |
Our team will continue to work closely with the USPS and our commingling partner to maximize any available discounts our clients’ mailings qualify for, especially as we learn more details about what types of mail are eligible. If you have any questions about these proposed rate changes, feel free to reach out to your account management team.
