Understanding What's Really Going on at the
Post Office
If you had a tough
time during the Great Recession of the last few years, you are in the same
boat with many, including the United States Postal Service. With computers,
e-mail, and the rise of similar types of technology, total mail volume was
already on the decline - and then, the most troubling economic times in
decades hit. All types of mail volume dropped dramatically in a short period
of time.
According to the official USPS website, total mail volume in 2006 was
roughly 213.1 billion pieces of material. The total mail volume in 2015, on
the other hand, was 154.2 billion. While that's still a lot of mailers,
flyers, and other items being delivered across the country on a daily
basis, a drop of that magnitude is still pretty staggering.
What is an Exigent Rate?
Because of this situation, the USPS asked for something called an Exigent
Rate Case. That meant that due to demanding circumstances, the Postal
Service was allowed to "raise market-dominant prices above the CPI-U
(consumer price index) price cap" for a limited time. After an
approval process that required a submitted proposal and a hearing conducted
on the record with an opportunity for public comment, that increase was
granted - leading to the current rates that we're experiencing.
So Why are Rates Dropping?
Exigent Rate Cases are not permanent – they have a limited lifespan as,
theoretically, the special circumstances that required them in the first
place will resolve themselves eventually. This is exactly what is
happening. When the emergency rate expired on April 10, 2016, most of us
experienced the first postal rate drop in our lifetime. With the price of a
first-class stamp dropping to 47 cents, it represents the first decrease in
nearly 100 years.
The good news is that mail volumes have actually recovered pretty
significantly. This is especially true in terms of packages, as more people
than ever before are choosing to buy their everyday items online at
retailers like Amazon.com. The news may be great for consumers and
marketers, but it is doing little to actually relieve the problems that the
Post Office is still going through.
Megan J. Brennan, the current Postmaster General, said that multi-year
revenue declines are still a very real concern and were in excess of $7
billion in 2009 alone. In a statement she would go on to say that
"Removing the surcharge and reducing our prices is an irrational
outcome considering the Postal Service's precarious financial
condition."
Looking Ahead for the Post Office and Marketers
Not to worry, though. The United States Postal Service isn't going anywhere
anytime soon - however, exactly what these rate decreases will do to their
bottom line remains to be seen. One thing is for sure, as previously
stated, there has never been a better opportunity to truly experiment with
the benefits that direct mail has in terms of your overall marketing
efforts. If you've moved more in a digital direction due to increased
mailing and shipping rates over the last few years, this rate drop is the
perfect incentive to dip your toe back in these proverbial waters.
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