By Nathalie Voit
The U.S. Postal Service is temporarily bumping prices for the 2022 peak holiday season, the agency said in a statement released on Aug. 10.
USPS said the planned price changes would be used to offset “extra handling costs” to ensure a smooth peak shipping season. The price increases will also keep USPS competitive with other shipping carriers.
The agency said its board of governors signed off the rate adjustments on Aug. 9. Pending approval by the Postal Regulatory Commission, the new seasonal rates would go into effect on Oct. 2 and remain in place until Jan. 22, 2023.
The peak-season pricing will be based on the weight of a package and how far it must be delivered. Commercial Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express packages will go up by 75 cents, according to the new rates data. Large, heavy-duty mailing boxes on long-distance hauls could see price hikes of up to $6.50.
“No structural changes are planned as part of this limited pricing initiative,” USPS said in the statement.
The adjustment is similar to previous years, USPS noted.
