Charts.html

Average Percent Rate Change

USPS
Proposed

PRC
Recommended

First-Class Mail:

Letters

3.5%

1.8%

Cards

5.2%

0.4%

Priority Mail

15.0%

16.0%

Express Mail

3.9%

3.6%

Periodicals:

Within County

8.6%

6.8%

Regular Rate

14.2%

9.9%

Nonprofit

15.2%*

7.2%

Classroom

11.3%*

9.6%

Standard Mail:

Regular Other

9.4%

8.8%

Regular ECR

4.9%

4.5%

Nonprofit Other

6.6%*

4.8%

Nonprofit ECR

41.9%*

18.3%

Package Services:

Parcel Post

2.7%

2.7%

Bound Printed Matter

17.5%

17.6%

Media Mail

5.0%

6.3%

Library Rate

5.0%*

4.9%

Special Services:

Certified Mail

50.0%

35.7%

Money Orders

8.3%

(4.1)%

Lock Boxes

9.0%

9.0%

Systemwide

6.0%

4.6%

* Estimated increase had 39 U.S.C. § 3626(a) formula not been amended by legislation enacted October 27, 2000.

History of First-Class Stamp Rates

Date*

Cost#

1885-1917

.02

1917-1919

.03 (War Years)

1919

.02 (Dropped back by Congress)

July 6, 1932

.03

August 1, 1958

.04

January 7, 1963

.05

January 7, 1968

.06

May 16, 1971

.08

March 2, 1974

.10

December 31, 1975

.13

May 29, 1978

.15 ("A" Stamp used)

March 22, 1981

.18 ("B" Stamp used)

November 1, 1981

.20 ("C" Stamp used)

February 17, 1985

.22 ("D" Stamp used)

April 3, 1988

.25 ("E" Stamp used)

February 3, 1991

.29 ("F" Stamp used)

January 1, 1995

.32 ("G" Stamp used)

January 10, 1999

.33 ("H" Stamp used)

* The date specified is the first day on which the rate became applicable. In some instances, the rate introduced was temporary.

#The rate for the first ounce of a First-Class Letter. Beginning September 14, 1975, additional ounces have been charged rates lower than the applicable first-ounce rate.

		USPS Proposed		PRC Recommended
First-Class Mail:
	Letters	3.5%		1.8%
	Cards	5.2%		0.4%
Priority Mail	15.0%		16.0%
Express Mail	3.9%		3.6%
Periodicals:
	Within County	8.6%		6.8%
	Regular Rate	14.2%		9.9%
	Nonprofit	15.2%*		7.2%
	Classroom	11.3%*		9.6%
Standard Mail:
	Regular Other	9.4%		8.8%
	Regular ECR	4.9%		4.5%
	Nonprofit Other	6.6%*		4.8%
	Nonprofit ECR	41.9%*		18.3%
Package Services:
	Parcel Post	2.7%		2.7%
	Bound Printed Matter	17.5%		17.6%
	Media Mail	5.0%		6.3%
	Library Rate	5.0%*		4.9%
Special Services:
	Certified Mail	50.0%		35.7%
	Money Orders	8.3%		(4.1)%
	Lock Boxes	9.0%		9.0%
Systemwide	6.0%		4.6%
* Estimated increase had 39 U.S.C. § 3626(a) formula not been amended by legislation enacted October 27, 2000.

Date*	Cost#

1885-1917	.02
1917-1919	.03 (War Years)
1919	.02 (Dropped back by Congress)
July 6, 1932	.03
August 1, 1958	.04
January 7, 1963	.05
January 7, 1968	.06
May 16, 1971	.08
March 2, 1974	.10
December 31, 1975	.13
May 29, 1978	.15 ("A" Stamp used)
March 22, 1981	.18 ("B" Stamp used)
November 1, 1981	.20 ("C" Stamp used)
February 17, 1985	.22 ("D" Stamp used)
April 3, 1988	.25 ("E" Stamp used)
February 3, 1991	.29 ("F" Stamp used)
January 1, 1995	.32 ("G" Stamp used)
January 10, 1999	.33 ("H" Stamp used)

* The date specified is the first day on which the rate became applicable. In some instances, the rate introduced was temporary. #The rate for the first ounce of a First-Class Letter. Beginning September 14, 1975, additional ounces have been charged rates lower than the applicable first-ounce rate.

Postal Rate Commission
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Voice: (202) 789-6800
Fax: (202) 789-6886
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