[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 221 (Wednesday, November 19, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52120-52121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-20281]
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POSTAL SERVICE
Change in Rates and Classifications of General Applicability for
Competitive Products
AGENCY: Postal Service.
ACTION: Notice of a change in rates and classifications of general
applicability for competitive products.
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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth changes in rates and classifications of
general applicability for competitive products.
DATES: Applicability date: January 18, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Reed, 202-268-3179.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 13, 2025, pursuant to their
authority under 39 U.S.C. 3632, the Governors of the Postal Service
established price 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 can be found at www.prc.gov.
Kevin Rayburn,
Attorney, Ethics and 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. 25-6)
November 13, 2025
Statement of Explanation and Justification
Pursuant to our 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 8.0 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 5.1
percent increase on average. The existing structure of zoned Retail and
Commercial price categories is maintained. Retail prices will increase
5.0 percent on average, while the Commercial price category will
increase 5.9 percent on average. The Dimension Noncompliance fee,
introduced in 2022 for packages that cause the Postal Service to incur
manual handling costs when the dimensions of the package exceed
sortation requirements, will increase to $3.00.
B. Priority Mail
On average, Priority Mail prices will be increased by 6.6 percent,
and the existing price structure will be maintained.
Retail prices will increase by an average of 6.3 percent. Retail
Flat Rate Box prices will be: Small, $12.65; Medium, $22.95; Large,
$31.50 and Large APO/FPO/DPO, $30.15. Thus, the Large APO/FPO/DPO Flat
Rate Box will be $1.35 less than the Large Flat Rate Box. The regular
Flat Rate Envelope will be priced at $11.95, with the Legal Size and
Padded Flat Rate Envelopes priced at $12.25 and $12.95, respectively.
The Commercial price category will increase by 6.9 percent on average.
The Dimension Noncompliance fee for Priority Mail packages will also
increase to $3.00.
C. Parcel Select
On average, Parcel Select prices as a whole will increase 6.0
percent. For destination delivery unit (DDU) 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 Connect Local, introduced in 2022, the average
price increase is 4.9 percent. The Dimension Noncompliance fee for
Parcel Select packages will also increase to $3.00.
D. USPS Ground Advantage
USPS Ground Advantage, introduced in July 2023, is the Postal
Service's flagship ground package product. Overall, USPS Ground
Advantage prices will increase 7.8 percent on average, and the existing
structure will be maintained. Retail prices will increase 5.9 percent
on average, while Commercial prices will increase 9.6 percent on
average. The Alaska Limited Overland Routes (LOR) price category will
see a 9.9 percent average increase for January 2026. The Dimension
Noncompliance fee for USPS Ground Advantage packages will also increase
to $3.00.
F. Domestic Extra Services
Premium Forwarding Service (PFS) prices will increase between 6.8
and 6.9 percent in 2026. The retail counter enrollment fee will
increase to $28.70. The online enrollment option, introduced in 2014,
will increase to $26.40. The weekly reshipment fee will increase to
$29.70. The reshipment fee for PFS Local, which was introduced in 2019
for P.O. Box customers, will increase to $29.70. Package Intercept
[[Page 52121]]
Service will increase to $19.45 in 2026. Adult Signature Service will
increase to $9.70, while the in-person option will increase to $10.00.
Competitive Post Office Box prices will be increasing 5.7 percent on
average, within the existing price ranges. Package Intercept Service
will increase to $18.35. The Pickup On Demand fee will remain unchanged
for 2026, at $26.50. Premium Data Retention and Retrieval Service (USPS
Tracking Plus), which was introduced in 2020, will have its prices
remain unchanged for 2026. The fee for Label Delivery Service,
introduced in 2023 under the Competitive Ancillary Services product,
will increase to $1.65 for 2026. The fee for Forwarding and Returns for
Parcel Select will increase to $3.80, and the additional fee for
customers using Address Correction Service with Shipper Paid
Forwarding/Return, and also using an IMpb, will be $3.20.
Finally, in 2026, the Postal Service is introducing a fee for a new
solution, called USPS Delivered Duty Paid (DDP), under the Competitive
Ancillary Services product. For this solution, the Postal Service
facilitates the sender prepaying any applicable customs duties, taxes,
and fees before the item is mailed, as opposed to such charges being
due upon delivery. The fee that the Postal Service will charge for
facilitating payment does not include any applicable taxes, duties, and
non-USPS fees, which are collected separately and passed through to a
third party.
II. International Products
A. Expedited Services
Priority Mail Express International (PMEI) will be subject to an
overall 5.9 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
5.9 percent. Commercial Plus prices will be equivalent to Commercial
Base.
C. International Priority Airmail
Published prices for International Priority Airmail (IPA) will
increase by 5.9 percent.
D. Airmail M-Bags
The published prices for Airmail M-Bags will increase by 44.0
percent. New for 2026, some changes to the product description for
Airmail M-Bags will be made to reflect that as of January 1, 2025, at
the Universal Postal Union (UPU), M-bags (special bags for printed
matter and certain other articles that relate exclusively to the
printed matter sent to a single foreign addressee at a single address)
became an optional supplementary service for UPU-designated postal
operators, and that the United States has provided to the UPU written
notification that it will continue to offer M-bag service but opted to
restrict the service solely to printed matter.
E. First-Class Package International Service
The overall increase for First-Class Package International Service
(FCPIS) prices will be 5.9 percent. Commercial Plus prices will be
equivalent to Commercial Base.
F. International Ancillary Services and Special Services
Prices for International Certificate of Mailing will increase by
14.3 percent. Prices for International Insurance will increase by 17.1
percent. Prices for the Customs Clearance and Delivery Fee will
increase by 5.6 percent.
Order
The changes in prices and classes set forth herein shall be
effective at 12:01 a.m. on January 18, 2026. We direct the Secretary of
the Board of Governors Office 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:
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Amber F. McReynolds
Chairman, Board of Governors.
United States Postal Service Office of the Board of Governors
Certification of Governors' Vote on Governors' Decision No. 25-1
Consistent with 39 U.S.C. 3632(a), I hereby certify that, on
November 13, 2025, the Governors voted on adopting Governors' Decision
No. 25-6, and that a majority of the Governors then holding office
voted in favor of that Decision.
Date: November 13, 2025.
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Lucy C. Trout
Secretary of the Board of Governors.
[FR Doc. 2025-20281 Filed 11-18-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P