2023-25766. Change in Rates and Classes of General Applicability for Competitive Products

AGENCY:

Postal Service^TM.

ACTION:

Notice of a change in rates and classifications of general applicability for competitive products.

SUMMARY:

This notice sets forth changes in rates and classifications of general applicability for competitive products.

DATES:

Applicable date: January 21, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Elizabeth Reed, 202–268–3179.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

On November 13, 2023, pursuant to their authority under 39 U.S.C. 3632, the Governors of the Postal Service established prices and classification changes for competitive products. The Governors' Decision and the record of proceedings in connection with such decision are reprinted below in accordance with section 3632(b)(2). Mail Classification Schedule language containing the new prices and classification changes can be found at www.prc.gov.

Sarah Sullivan,

Attorney, Ethics & Legal Compliance.

Decision of the Governors of the United States Postal Service on Changes in Rates and Classifications of General Applicability for Competitive Products (Governors' Decision No. 23–5)

November 13, 2023

Statement of Explanation and Justification

Pursuant to authority under section 3632 of title 39, as amended by the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 (“PAEA”), we establish prices and classifications of general applicability for the Postal Service's competitive products. The changes are described generally below, with a detailed description of the changes in the Postal Service's associated draft Mail Classification Schedule change document. That document contains the draft Mail Classification Schedule sections with classification changes in legislative format, and new prices displayed in the price charts.

As shown in the nonpublic annex being filed under seal herewith, the changes we establish should enable each competitive product to cover its attributable costs (39 U.S.C. 3633(a)(2)) and should result in competitive products as a whole complying with 39 U.S.C. 3633(a)(3), which, as implemented by 39 CFR 3035.107(c), requires competitive products collectively to contribute a minimum of 9.9 percent to the Postal Service's institutional costs. Accordingly, no issue of subsidization of competitive products by market dominant products should arise (39 U.S.C. 3633(a)(1)). We therefore find that the new prices and classification changes are in accordance with 39 U.S.C. 3632–3633 and 39 CFR 3035.102 and 104.

I. Domestic Products

A. Priority Mail Express

Overall, the Priority Mail Express price change represents a 5.9 percent increase. In 2023, we consolidated the Commercial Base and Commercial Plus price categories into one Commercial price category and differentiated the “Local, 1, 2” Zone prices. For January 2024, this new structure will be maintained. Dimensional weighting, which was introduced for all zones in 2019, will also continue in 2024.

Retail prices will increase an average of 5.9 percent. The price for the Retail Flat Rate Envelope, a significant portion of all Priority Mail Express volume, will increase to $30.45, with the Legal Size and Padded Flat Rate Envelopes priced at $30.65 and $31.20, respectively.

The Commercial price category will increase 5.9 percent on average. Commercial prices will, on average, reflect a 13.7 percent discount off of Retail prices. The eVS Unmanifested Fee will be renamed as “Unmanifested Fee” to accommodate the ongoing migration of customers from eVS to the USPS Ship platform. Finally, certain Nonstandard Fees (NSFs) applicable to Priority Mail Express will see a 20 percent increase in 2024.

B. Priority Mail

On average, the Priority Mail prices will be increased by 5.7 percent. Similar to Priority Mail Express, the Commercial Base and Commercial Plus price categories were consolidated into one Priority Mail Commercial price category and “Local, 1, 2” Zone prices were differentiated in 2023. For January 2024, this new structure will be maintained. Dimensional weighting, which was introduced for all zones in 2019, will also continue in 2024.

Retail prices will increase by an average of 5.6 percent. Retail Flat Rate Box prices will be: Small, $10.40; Medium, $18.40; Large, $24.75 and Large APO/FPO/DPO, $23.00. Thus, the Large APO/FPO/DPO Flat Rate Box will be $1.75 less than the Large Flat Rate Box. The regular Flat Rate Envelope will be priced at $9.85, with the Legal Size and Padded Flat Rate Envelopes priced at $10.15 and $10.60, respectively.

The Commercial price category will increase by 5.8 percent on average. Commercial prices will, on average, reflect a 20.5 percent discount off of Retail prices. The eVS Unmanifested Fee will be renamed as “Unmanifested Fee” to accommodate the ongoing migration of customers from eVS to the USPS Ship platform. Finally, certain Nonstandard Fees (NSFs) applicable to Priority Mail will see a 20 percent increase in 2024.

C. Parcel Select

On average, Parcel Select prices as a whole will increase 5.9 percent. New for 2024, we will be eliminating Parcel Select Lightweight as a separate price category; rather, ounce-based prices will be added under the destination-entered categories at 4-, 8-, and 12-ounce increments. With the elimination of Parcel Select Lightweight and prior structural changes made earlier in 2023, the prices for Parcel Select can now be expressed in a single price table, which further supports the Postal Service's product simplification efforts.

For destination delivery unit (DDU) entered parcels, the average price increase is 5.9 percent. For destination hub (Dhub) entered parcels, the average price increase is 5.9 percent. For destination sectional center facility (DSCF) destination entered parcels, the average price increase is 5.9 percent. For destination network distribution center (DNDC) parcels, the average price increase is 5.9 percent. Prices for USPS Connect Local, introduced in 2022, will remain unchanged for 2024. Dimensional weighting, which was introduced for all zones in 2019, will continue in 2024. The eVS Unmanifested Fee will be renamed as “Unmanifested Fee” to accommodate the ongoing migration of customers from eVS to the USPS Ship platform. Finally, certain Nonstandard Fees (NSFs) applicable to Parcel Select will see a 20 percent increase in 2024.

D. USPS Ground Advantage

USPS Ground Advantage, introduced in July 2023, is the Postal Service's flagship ground package product. The existing structure will be maintained for 2024. Overall, USPS Ground Advantage prices will increase 5.4 percent on average. Retail prices will increase 5.2 percent on average, while Commercial prices will increase 5.4 percent on average. The Alaska Limited Overland Routes (LOR) price category will see a 9.2 percent average increase for January 2024. The eVS Unmanifested Fee will be renamed as “Unmanifested Fee” to accommodate the ongoing migration of customers from eVS to the USPS Ship platform. Finally, certain Nonstandard Fees (NSFs) applicable to USPS Ground Advantage will see a 20 percent increase in 2024.

F. Domestic Extra Services

Premium Forwarding Service (PFS) prices will increase 3.0 percent on average in 2024. The retail counter enrollment fee will increase to $26.20. The online enrollment option, introduced in 2014, will increase to $24.10. The weekly reshipment fee will increase to $26.20. The reshipment fee for PFS Local, which was introduced in 2019 for P.O. Box customers, will increase to $26.20. Prices for Adult Signature service will increase to $9.35 for the basic service and $9.65 for the person-specific service. Address Enhancement Service prices will increase 3.0 percent on average in 2024. Competitive Post Office Box prices will be increasing 6.5 percent on average, within the existing price ranges. Package Intercept Service will increase to $17.50. The Pickup On Demand fee will remain unchanged for 2024, at $26.50. Premium Data Retention and Retrieval Service (USPS Tracking Plus), which was introduced in 2020, will not see a price change in 2024. The fee for Label Delivery Service, introduced in 2023 under the Competitive Ancillary Services product, will remain at $1.25 for 2024.

II. International Products

A. Expedited Services

International expedited services include Global Express Guaranteed (GXG) and Priority Mail Express International (PMEI). Overall, GXG prices will rise by 5.4 percent, and PMEI will be subject to an overall 5.4 percent increase. Commercial Plus prices will be equivalent to Commercial Base.

B. Priority Mail International

The overall increase for Priority Mail International (PMI) will be 5.4 percent. Commercial Plus prices will be equivalent to Commercial Base.

C. International Priority Airmail and International Surface Air Lift

Published prices for International Priority Airmail (IPA) and International Surface Air Lift (ISAL) will increase by 5.5 percent and 3.5 percent, respectively.

D. Airmail M-Bags

The published prices for Airmail M-Bags will increase by 5.4 percent.

E. First-Class Package International Service^TM

The overall increase for First-Class Package International Service (FCPIS) prices will be 6.4 percent. Commercial Plus prices will be equivalent to Commercial Base.

F. International Ancillary Services and Special Services

Prices for several international ancillary services will be increased, including a 2.5 percent increase for International Certificate of Mailing, a 3.0 percent increase for International Insurance, a 2.5 percent increase for International Registered Mail, a 2.7 percent increase for International Return Receipt, and a 3.0 percent increase for the Customs and Clearance Delivery Fee.

Order

The changes in prices and classes set forth herein shall be effective at 12:01 a.m. on January 21, 2024. We direct the Secretary to have this decision published in the Federal Register in accordance with 39 U.S.C. 3632(b)(2) and direct management to file with the Postal Regulatory Commission appropriate notice of these changes.

By the Governors.

/s/

Roman Martinez IV,

Chairman, Board of Governors.

United States Postal Service Office of the Board of Governors

Certification of Governors' Vote on Governors' Decision No. 23–5

Consistent with 39 U.S.C. 3632(a), I hereby certify that, on November 13, 2023, the Governors voted on adopting Governors' Decision No. 23–5, and that a majority of the Governors then holding office voted in favor of that Decision.

Date: November 13, 2023.

/s/

Michael J. Elston,

Secretary of the Board of Governors.