Big News! U.S. Postal Service Announces No Rate Hike in January 2025
by Stephanie Buka, Government Affairs Coordinator Sep 25, 2024

There is good news to share that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) announced that there will not be a price increase in January 2025 for Market Dominant products, which includes Periodicals, Marketing Mail, First-Class Mail, and Package Services. In the September 20, 2024, announcement, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy highlighted that the USPS operational strategies are improving service reliability and efficiency, with projected inflation on the decline. As a result, DeJoy said the USPS will wait until at least July 2025 before proposing any further increases. 

PRINTING United Alliance and other stakeholders have repeatedly raised concerns about alarming rate increases and poor service delivery. Members of Congress have questioned DeJoy’s leadership and the Delivering for America 10-year plan, intended to modernize and transform the Postal Service. DeJoy has previously said that the USPS aims to recover $2 billion in revenue by raising prices on mail products to offset 15 years of what he called a “defective pricing model.” In total, the USPS seeks to cut $5 billion in operating expenses by the end of 2025. 

The Alliance welcomed the good news and the cost certainty it will provide for its members. As a member of Keep US Posted and the Coalition for a 21st Century Postal Service (C21), the Alliance advocates for an affordable, reliable, and effective Postal Service.  

A statement from C21 reads, “We applaud the USPS for their commitment to forego a stamp price increase in January 2025. This demonstrates a clear understanding of the needs of consumers and businesses alike. By listening to their customers and making this important announcement in advance, the USPS is taking a positive step toward ensuring a reliable, affordable postal system for everyone.”   

As a key delivery channel for the printing industry, the Alliance will continue to support policy that protects USPS mail delivery for businesses and communities. The Government Affairs team, along with its coalition partners, will closely monitor and report on developments as they unfold in 2025. 

In this article, Stephanie Buka, Government Affairs Coordinator, PRINTING United Alliance, discusses the USPS announcing no rate hike in January 2025. More information can be found at Business Excellence-Legislation or reach out to Steph should you have additional questions specific to how these issues may affect your business: sbuka@printing.org. 

To become a member of the Alliance and learn more about how our subject matter experts can assist your company with services and resources such as those mentioned in this article, please contact the Alliance membership team: 888-385-3588 / membership@printing.org.    

 

Business Customer Service Mailing
Stephanie Buka Government Affairs Coordinator
Hire This Expert

Stephanie Buka is the Government Affairs Coordinator for PRINTING United Alliance. In this role, she supports Ford Bowers, CEO, the Government Affairs team, and coordinates efforts with lobbying firm, ACG Advocacy. She manages all aspects of grassroots advocacy campaigns, including facilitating timely call-to-action alerts and updates to The Advocacy Center on key federal and state legislative issues. As a member of the Office of Corporate Communications, Buka manages the content and audience building responsibilities for the Government Affairs team. She is also responsible for the administration of the Alliance's political action committee, PrintPAC.

Prior to joining the Alliance, Buka served as a senior legislative researcher, and later as a constituent services coordinator, for the 15-member legislative body representing 1.3 million residents of Allegheny County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In addition to drafting legislation and addressing constituent concerns, Buka cultivated strong relationships with appointed and elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels of government.

Buka holds a master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from the University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA). She also earned a master's degree in Criminology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, along with a Certificate in Forensic Science and Law from Duquesne University.

Related Content

PRINTING United Alliance Applauds Introduction of the USPS SERVES US Act

Recognizing that Congress needed to intervene to save the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), Rep. Jake LaTurner (R-KS-2) introduced the USPS Services Enhancement and Regulatory Viability Expansion and Sustainability for the U.S. Act (USPS SERVES US Act, H.R. 9839) on September 25, 2024.

Congress Avoids a Government Shutdown

To avoid a government shutdown, Congress passed on September 25, 2024, and President Biden signed into law, a continuing resolution (CR, H.R. 9747) that will extend funding for the federal government until December 20, 2024. The passage of the CR avoided a government shutdown right before the new fiscal year (FY) began on October 1, 2024. With a CR enacted, members of Congress left their offices on Capitol Hill for a campaigning recess in the run-up to the November 5, 2024 General Election. Congress will return on November 12, 2024, and will have until December 20, 2024 to negotiate bipartisan spending agreements on all 12 FY 2025 appropriations.

PRINTING United Alliance Opposes New Tariffs on Aluminum Lithographic Printing Plates

On September 13, PRINTING United Alliance, in partnership with the News/Media Alliance, sent a cross-industry coalition letter to the International Trade Commission (ITC) urging the commissioners to reject antidumping (AD) and countervailing duties (CVD) on imports of aluminum lithographic printing plates from China and Japan. The duties were preliminarily imposed earlier this year at an excessive rate of 200% (China) and 87% (Japan). Because there is no U.S. supplier of the highly technical lithographic aluminum sheet product that is necessary to make the printing plates, they must be imported.
}