2019 USPS Postage Increases are Officially in Effect: Here's What You Need to Know

As of Sunday January 27 the 2019 United States Postal Service Price Changes Have Been Implemented.

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that every piece of mail will see an increase.

For example:

  • Postcard rates will not see an increase in 2019

  • First Class Mail International Postcards will not see an increase in 2019 (*Country Groups 1-9)

  • First Class Mail Large Envelopes (Flats) will not see an increase in 2019

  • First Class Mail International Letters (1oz) will not see an increase in 2019 (*Country Groups 1-9)

*For more information on country groups, please see the following link: https://pe.usps.com/text/imm/immpg.htm

In fact, there are even some decreases in price.

  • Metered Mail Letters cost per additional oz (after 1 oz) will decrease by $0.06

  • FIrst Class Mail Large Envelopes (Flats) cost per additional oz (after 1oz) will decrease by $0.06

  • Priority Mail Flat Rate Medium Box and Large Flat Rate Boxes are decreasing by $0.05

  • Parcel Select Ground shipping rates are decreasing by an average of 1.3% in 2019.

For the average person, the increases that will be most noticeable will be in First-Class Retail Mail. We’ve created the following chart for your use so that you can understand how January 2019 USPS First-Class Retail Mail rates have changed. Click link for downloadable PDF.

Download January 2019 First-Class Mail Retail Chart

What About Marketing Mailings and Nonprofit Marketing Mailings?

The good news is that 2019 postcard mailing rates will not change in 2019. This is great considering postcards are one of the most widely used and efficient mail marketing tools.

The bad news is that yes, Marketing Mail and Nonprofit Marketing Mail along with most other types of mail will still see a slight increase in 2019. But it’s not as catastrophic as you may think. This just means it’s more important to think about the type of mail you are sending, since Marketing Mail and Nonprofit Marketing Mail can still get a substantial discount over other types of mail.

It’s also important to consider destination discounts for Marketing Mail. This means that the closer your mail is to where it’s going, the cheaper it may be. Boston is a bustling hub of nonprofits and a marketing epicenter—lucky for you, CITYMAIL retains a Boston mailing permit, saving you money when you target locally.

So How Else Can You Use CITYMAIL to Save Money on Direct Mail Marketing in 2019?

It is more important than ever to move away from individual retail mailing and toward using a professional direct mailer like CITYMAIL.

Why? Because a professional mailer can still find you the cheapest rate possible on your direct mail marketing campaign. It gets complicated when you start talking about sorting, zip-coding, and volume because each job is unique (click here to get CITYMAIL’s input on yours), but:

The bottom line is that First-Class Commercial Mail (presorted letters, flats, and packages with 500 pieces or more*) have seen some of the lesser increases in 2019 (only about 1%). Using a direct mailer with access to mail automation such as barcoding and presorting can save you around 20% over retail.

When you set out to do your mailing, before you even decide your design, target audience, and audience size, it’s best to contact a professional direct mailer that can find you the best solution for your direct mail marketing project.

*Note: Standard Mail minimum is 200 pieces

For more information and the full list of 2019 USPS Postal Rate Changes, See the Official USPS 2019 Price List.


Guy Zaccardi