Notice2023-25766
Change in Rates and Classes of General Applicability for Competitive Products
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 22, 2023
Issuing agencies
Postal Service
Abstract
This notice sets forth changes in rates and classifications of general applicability for competitive products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 224 (Wednesday, November 22, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 224 (Wednesday, November 22, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81447-81448]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25766]
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POSTAL SERVICE
Change in Rates and Classes of General Applicability for
Competitive Products
AGENCY: Postal Service<SUP>TM</SUP>.
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: 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 <a href="http://www.prc.gov">www.prc.gov</a>.
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.
[[Page 81448]]
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<SUP>TM</SUP>
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/
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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/
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Michael J. Elston,
Secretary of the Board of Governors.
[FR Doc. 2023-25766 Filed 11-21-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on November 22, 2023.
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