[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 174 (Monday, September 9, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73133-73134]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-20272]


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POSTAL SERVICE


Change in Rates of General Applicability for Competitive Products

AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.

ACTION: Notice of a change in rates of general applicability for 
competitive products.

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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth time-limited changes in rates of 
general applicability for competitive products.

DATES: Applicability date: October 6, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Reed, 202-268-3179.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 8, 2024, pursuant to their 
authority under 39 U.S.C. 3632, the Governors of the Postal Service 
established time-limited price 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 can be found at www.prc.gov.

Ruth Stevenson,
Chief Counsel, Ethics and Legal Compliance.

Decision of the Governors of the United States Postal Service on 
Changes in Rates of General Applicability for Competitive Products 
(Governors' Decision No. 24-4)

August 8, 2024.

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 new prices of general applicability for certain domestic 
shipping services (competitive products), and concurrent classification 
changes to effectuate the new prices. These prices shall be in effect 
at 12:00 a.m. CDT on October 6, 2024 until 12:00 a.m. CST on January 
19, 2025, at which

[[Page 73134]]

time prices will be restored to the levels that were in effect prior to 
these increases. The changes are described generally below, with a 
detailed description of the changes in the attachment. The attachment 
includes the draft Mail Classification Schedule sections with the new 
prices that will take effect on October 6 displayed in the price 
charts, as well as the Mail Classification Schedule sections with the 
prices that will be restored on January 19.
    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 9.6 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 are in accordance with 39 U.S.C. 3632-3633 and 39 CFR 3035.102.

I. Domestic Products

A. Priority Mail Express

    Overall, the Priority Mail Express price change represents a 4.9 
percent increase. The existing structure of zoned Retail and Commercial 
price categories is maintained. Retail prices will increase 4.9 percent 
on average, while the Commercial price category will increase 4.9 
percent on average.

B. Priority Mail

    On average, the Priority Mail prices will be increased by 5.5 
percent. The existing structure of zoned Retail and Commercial price 
categories is maintained. Retail prices will increase 5.3 percent on 
average, while the Commercial price category will increase 5.6 percent 
on average.

C. USPS Ground Advantage

    USPS Ground Advantage, introduced in July 2024, is the Postal 
Service's flagship ground package product. USPS Ground Advantage prices 
will increase 6.4 percent on average. The existing structure of zoned 
Retail and Commercial price categories is maintained. Retail prices 
will increase 6.2 percent on average, while the Commercial price 
category will increase 6.5 percent on average. The Alaska Limited 
Overland Routes (LOR) price category will see a 10.3 percent increase.
    No price changes are being made to Parcel Select, Special Services, 
or International competitive products.

Order

    The changes in prices set forth herein shall be effective at 12:00 
a.m. on October 6, 2024, and will be rolled back to current levels at 
12:00 a.m. on January 19, 2025. We direct the Secretary of the Board of 
Governors 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:
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. 24-4

    Consistent with 39 U.S.C. 3632(a), I hereby certify that on August 
8, 2024, the Governors voted on adopting Governors' Decision No. 24-4, 
and that a majority of the Governors then holding office voted in favor 
of that Decision.

    Date: August 8, 2024.
Michael J. Elston,
Secretary of the Board of Governors.

[FR Doc. 2024-20272 Filed 9-5-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P