The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has filed a notice with the Postal Regulatory Committee (PRC) to implement what it called a “temporary price change” for some of its package products before the 2026 peak holiday season.

USPS said it filed the notice Aug. 25. The carrier anticipates the rates taking effect at midnight on Oct. 4, remaining in place until midnight on Jan. 17, 2027, if the PRC approves them. Ahead of that potential effective date, USPS will close all of its post office locations on Labor Day, which will be Monday, Sept. 7.

Additionally, USPS said the price changes would affect both retail and commercial domestic parcels under four of its services:

• Priority Mail Express (PME)
• Priority Mail (PM)
• USPS Ground Advantage
• Parcel Select

USPS also specified that “no other products or services would be affected.”

USPS’ proposed retail price changes going into 2026 holiday period

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has filed a notice with the Postal Regulatory Committee (PRC) to implement what it called a “temporary price change” for some of its package products before the 2026 peak holiday season.

USPS said it filed the notice Aug. 25. The carrier anticipates the rates taking effect at midnight on Oct. 4, remaining in place until midnight on Jan. 17, 2027, if the PRC approves them. Ahead of that potential effective date, USPS will close all of its post office locations on Labor Day, which will be Monday, Sept. 7.

Additionally, USPS said the price changes would affect both retail and commercial domestic parcels under four of its services:

• Priority Mail Express (PME)
• Priority Mail (PM)
• USPS Ground Advantage
• Parcel Select

USPS also specified that “no other products or services would be affected.”

USPS’ proposed retail price changes going into 2026 holiday period

The price changes would include varying increases based on delivery distance. USPS designates distances in terms of nine zones, with the first four being the closest to their starting point.

For its Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage offerings, price increases will occur in two tiers. Zones 1-4 will have smaller price increases per weight class than zones 5-9. For the Priority Mail Express offering, all zones will see price increases depending solely on weight.

For packages 3 pounds or less, prices could increase by 50 cents to $2.35, depending on delivery distance. Packages weighing 4-10 pounds would see an increase of 80 cents to $6.30.

For packages weighing 11-25 pounds, the cost would increase in a range of $1.25 to $11.70. Similarly, the cost would increase from $3.90 to $20.80 for packages weighing 26 to 70 pounds.

Overall, USPS flat rate envelopes would see a price increase of $2.35.

B2B price increases at USPS

Similar to USPS’ retail price changes, business-to-business (B2B) rates would increase as well.

B2B rates would see slightly lower increases than consumer-facing rates. In addition, B2B rates factor in package volumes, not just their weights.

Packages going through USPS’ Parcel Select would see four tiers of price increases based on weight.

• 0 to 3 pounds: Increase of 40 cents
• 4 to 10 pounds: 50 cents
• 11 to 25 pounds: 80 cents
• 26 to 70 pounds and oversized: $2.35

USPS revenue in fiscal Q3 2026

In its fiscal Q3 2026, USPS total operating revenue increased to $19.94 billion. That was about 6.1% year-over-year growth from about $18.8 billion. It credited the increase to growth in the USPS Ground Advantage segment.

USPS’ fiscal Q3 ran from April 1 through June 30. In that time frame, it delivered about 25.43 billion pieces. That was about a 0.4% year-over-year increase in USPS volume during its fiscal Q3.

Its controllable loss was about $1.0 billion in the quarter, which compares to a $1.6 billion loss in the prior-year quarter. USPS defines controllable loss as excluding certain expenses that its management cannot control.

“Our results this quarter reflect some progress relative to those areas of the business where we can exercise control, namely with revenue generation, cost control and service improvement,” said David Steiner, postmaster general. “Nevertheless, the Postal Service is today continuing to face a severe liquidity crisis, and our financial losses this quarter reflect systemic challenges inherent in our Congressionally established business model and regulatory framework. We are taking responsible steps to conserve cash to extend our operating window, but we require thoughtful legislative and other actions to establish a financially sustainable Postal Service capable of serving the American public far into the future.”

The price changes would include varying increases based on delivery distance. USPS designates distances in terms of nine zones, with the first four being the closest to their starting point.

For its Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage offerings, price increases will occur in two tiers. Zones 1-4 will have smaller price increases per weight class than zones 5-9. For the Priority Mail Express offering, all zones will see price increases depending solely on weight.

For packages 3 pounds or less, prices could increase by 50 cents to $2.35, depending on delivery distance. Packages weighing 4-10 pounds would see an increase of 80 cents to $6.30.

For packages weighing 11-25 pounds, the cost would increase in a range of $1.25 to $11.70. Similarly, the cost would increase from $3.90 to $20.80 for packages weighing 26 to 70 pounds.

Overall, USPS flat rate envelopes would see a price increase of $2.35.

B2B price increases at USPS

Similar to USPS’ retail price changes, business-to-business (B2B) rates would increase as well.

B2B rates would see slightly lower increases than consumer-facing rates. In addition, B2B rates factor in package volumes, not just their weights.

Packages going through USPS’ Parcel Select would see four tiers of price increases based on weight.

• 0 to 3 pounds: Increase of 40 cents
• 4 to 10 pounds: 50 cents
• 11 to 25 pounds: 80 cents
• 26 to 70 pounds and oversized: $2.35

USPS revenue in fiscal Q3 2026

In its fiscal Q3 2026, USPS total operating revenue increased to $19.94 billion. That was about 6.1% year-over-year growth from about $18.8 billion. It credited the increase to growth in the USPS Ground Advantage segment.

USPS’ fiscal Q3 ran from April 1 through June 30. In that time frame, it delivered about 25.43 billion pieces. That was about a 0.4% year-over-year increase in USPS volume during its fiscal Q3.

Its controllable loss was about $1.0 billion in the quarter, which compares to a $1.6 billion loss in the prior-year quarter. USPS defines controllable loss as excluding certain expenses that its management cannot control.

“Our results this quarter reflect some progress relative to those areas of the business where we can exercise control, namely with revenue generation, cost control and service improvement,” said David Steiner, postmaster general. “Nevertheless, the Postal Service is today continuing to face a severe liquidity crisis, and our financial losses this quarter reflect systemic challenges inherent in our Congressionally established business model and regulatory framework. We are taking responsible steps to conserve cash to extend our operating window, but we require thoughtful legislative and other actions to establish a financially sustainable Postal Service capable of serving the American public far into the future.”

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