The U.S. Postal Service has much more leeway to adjust its prices for shipping services in which it is in competition with independent companies than it does for regular mail.
[press release]
U.S. Postal Service Announces New Domestic Competitive Prices for 2021
The United States Postal Service filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) today of price changes to take effect Jan. 24, 2021.
The proposed prices, approved by the Postal Service Governors, would raise Shipping Services product prices approximately 3.5 percent for Priority Mail service, and 1.2 percent for Priority Mail Express service. Shipping Services price increases vary by product. Although Mailing Services price increases are based on the consumer price index, Shipping Services prices are primarily adjusted according to market conditions. The Governors believe these new rates will keep the Postal Service competitive while providing the agency with needed revenue.
If favorably reviewed by the PRC, the new prices will include an increase in the price of a Small Flat-Rate Box to $8.45. The Medium Flat-Rate Box would increase to $15.50, the Large Flat-Rate Box would increase to $21.90 and the price of the APO/FPO Large Flat-Rate Box would increase to $20.40. Regular Flat-Rate Envelopes, Legal Flat-Rate Envelopes, and Padded Flat-Rate Envelopes would increase to $7.95, $8.25, and $8.55 respectively.
The Priority Express Mail flat-rates will remain the same.
The proposed domestic Priority Mail Flat Rate Retail price changes are:
|
Current |
Planned Increase |
|
| Small Flat-Rate Box | $8.30 | $8.45 |
| Medium Flat-Rate Box | $15.05 | $15.50 |
| Large Flat-Rate Box | $21.10 | $21.90 |
| APO/FPO Large Flat-Rate Box | $19.60 | $20.40 |
| Regular Flat-Rate Envelope | $7.75 | $7.95 |
| Legal Flat-Rate Envelope | $8.05 | $8.25 |
| Padded Flat-Rate Envelope | $8.40 | $8.55 |
The Postal Service has some of the lowest letter-mail postage rates in the industrialized world and continues to offer a great value in shipping. Unlike some other shippers, the Postal Service does not add surcharges for fuel, residential delivery or regular Saturday delivery.
The PRC will review the prices before they are scheduled to take effect. The complete Postal Service price filings with prices for all products can be found on the PRC site under the Daily Listings section at prc.gov/dockets/daily. For the Shipping Services filing, see Docket No. CP2021-28. The price change tables are also available on the Postal Service’s Postal Explorer website at pe.usps.com/PriceChange/Index.
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
Lunar New Year of the Ox Generic Sheet with 20 First Class Smilers stamps featuring fireworks images. [Larger version below]
al and secular themes.
65c Wreath (secular)
Paper: gummed: Tullis Russell
The Light of Peace from Bethlehem is the inspiring theme of the Vatican issue dedicated to Christmas 2020, including, in addition to the traditional stamps and booklet, also a leaflet in joint issue with Austria. In the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem there is an oil lamp that has been burning perpetually for many centuries, fueled by oil donated in turn by all the Christian nations of the earth. Every year in December, just before Christmas, a child selected from among the Austrian scout groups for his particular commitment in the social field, draws from that flame is the light that will be spread throughout the planet as a symbol of peace and brotherhood among peoples, placing it near the nativity scenes of families and churches. This tradition began in 1986 as part of the 
Christmas charity initiative “Licht ins Dunkel” – Light in the darkness – organized by the Austrian radio and television broadcaster ORF in Linz and aimed to the collection of spontaneous offers in support of disabled children, socially marginalized, but also of needy foreigners.
Stamp format: 30 x 40 mm
TORONTO – On November 5, Canada Post issued a new commemorative stamp to mark Hanukkah – the Jewish Festival of Lights. The eight-day celebration begins at nightfall on the 25th day of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, this year December 10. The stamp is available in advance, so Canadians can use it to send holiday greetings.
issues to help Canadians make their cards and letters more festive. Once again this year, Canadians can make their mail merrier with their choice of stamps bearing either sacred or secular holiday imagery.
scenes by Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis. Lewis’ earliest works were Christmas cards painted under the guidance of her mother and sold door to door to her neighbours in rural Nova Scotia. This issue features seasonal works from the collection of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in Halifax: Winter Sleigh Ride (12-stamp booklet at the Permanent™ domestic rate), Team of Oxen in Winter (six-stamp booklet at the U.S. rate) and Family and Sled (six-stamp booklet at the international rate). A souvenir sheet, depicting Lewis’ whimsical cats, and a souvenir sheet Official First Day Cover, cancelled in Digby, Nova Scotia, round out the issue.
nouveaux jeux de timbres qui égayeront les cartes et les lettres des Canadiens. Cette année encore, ces derniers pourront mettre un peu de joie sur leur courrier des Fêtes avec des timbres consacrés à un thème religieux ou profane.
L’Heureux, sont ornés de trois scènes joyeuses de l’artiste folklorique canadienne Maud Lewis. Les premières œuvres de l’artiste sont des cartes de Noël qu’elle peint en suivant les conseils de sa mère et qu’elle vend à des voisins en faisant du porte-à-porte en Nouvelle-Écosse. Cette émission est composée de trois œuvres qui font partie de la collection du Musée des beaux-arts de la Nouvelle-Écosse à Halifax : Winter Sleigh Ride (carnet de 12 timbres PermanentsMC au tarif du régime intérieur), Team of Oxen in Winter (carnet de 6 timbres au tarif des envois à destination des États-Unis) et Family and Sled (carnet de 6 timbres au tarif du régime international). Le bloc-feuillet, présentant une illustration fantaisiste de chats créée par Maud Lewis, et le pli Premier Jour officiel du bloc-feuillet, oblitéré à Digby, en Nouvelle-Écosse, complètent l’émission. 
From the USPS: This Happy Birthday stamp conveys exuberant greetings by calling to mind the childhood excitement of a birthday party. Each of the five letters in the word “HAPPY” is inspired by a different party decoration in the midst of a flurry of multicolored ribbons and confetti. This stamp was designed by Lisa Catalone Castro and Rodolfo Castro, featuring a digital illustration by the latter. Ethel Kessler served as art director.
From the USPS: America’s love of coffee is celebrated with four new stamps in a booklet of 20. Four digital illustrations feature cups of four different drinks: caffe latte, espresso, caffe mocha and cappuccino. The names of the espresso drinks appear in art-deco-inspired lettering above or below each cup. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps with original artwork by Terry Allen.
