Post Office Reveals Major Changes Ahead of Holiday Shipping

(KMDL-FM) If you're already feeling the pinch of higher prices where you live, then you won't welcome the news we are about to share from the United States Postal Service. The cost of their services, just like everyone else's, is going up.

That means postal customers in Crowley, Morgan City, and Alexandria, Louisiana, will be paying more for the privilege of shipping parcels and packages in the coming months. Those same rate increases will be applied to Texas postal customers in cities like Lufkin, Tyler, Midland-Odessa, and San Angelo.

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The reason for the rate increases seems to be pretty self-explanatory; according to a press release from USPS, the changes will "help cover extra handling costs to ensure a successful peak season." In other words, just when you plan on doing the bulk of your holiday shipping, the Post Office has plans to make a few more bucks off of you.

Which USPS Services Will Be Affected by the Rate Increase?

The rate increases referred to in the press release as "temporary" will affect the following services offered by the United States Postal Service. Those services are Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage, and Parcel Select.

The Post Office press release was quick to highlight the fact that prices for no other products or services would be included in the "temporary" increase. That means the price of stamps will not be going up.

Postal customers across Louisiana and Texas can expect the new rates to go into effect on October 5th. The current plan has the adjusted rates staying in place through January 18th of 2026.

The rate increases are based on Postal Zones, which is how the Post Office figures out how much to charge you for shipping your parcels and packages. Zones are based on your location in comparison to where you want your package shipped. The longer a package has to travel, the more the price you'll be asked to pay.

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What is the Cost Breakdown of USPS Rate Changes for Holiday Shipping?

Here is a breakdown of the rate changes, as provided by USPS:

Retail: That's customers like you and me.
Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage: Zones 1 - 4

$0.40 cents increase for Zones 1-4, 0-3 lbs.
$0.60 cents increase for Zones 1-4, 4-10 lbs.
$0.95 cents increase for Zones 1-4, 11-25 lbs.
$3.00 increase for Zones 1-4, 26-70 lbs.
Priority Mail Zone 5-9

$0.90 cents increase for Zones 5-9, 0-3 lbs.
$1.45 cents increase for Zones 5-9, 4-10 lbs.
$3.25 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 lbs.
$7.00 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 lbs.

Priority Mail Flat Rate

$1.45 for Large Flat Rate Boxes
$0.90 for all other Flat Rate Products
USPS Ground Advantage Zone 5-9

$0.50 cents increase for Zones 5-9, 0-3 lbs.
$1.00 cents increase for Zones 5-9, 4-10 lbs.
$2.00 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 lbs.
$5.75 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 lbs.
Priority Mail Express

$1.10 increase for Zones 1-4, 0-3 lbs.
$2.00 increase for Zones 5-9, 0-3 lbs.
$2.00 increase for Zones 1-4, 4-10 lbs.
$4.85 increase for Zones 5-9, 4-10 lbs.
$3.90 increase for Zones 1-4, 11-25 lbs.
$9.00 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 lbs.
$9.75 increase for Zones 1-4, 26-70 lbs.
$16.00 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 lbs.
Priority Mail Express Flat Rate

$2.00 increase for Flat Rate Envelopes

Commercial: These rates are for our business customers.

Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage: Zone 1-4, and Parcel Select (all entries)

$0.30 cents increase for Zones 1-4, 0-3 lbs.
$0.45 cents increase for Zones 1-4, 4-10 lbs.
$0.75 cents increase for Zones 1-4, 11-25 lbs.
$3.00 increase for Zones 1-4, 26-70 lbs.
Priority Mail Zone 5-9

$0.70 cents increase for Zones 5-9, 0-3 lbs.
$1.25 increase for Zones 5-9, 4-10 lbs.
$2.75 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 lbs.
$6.50 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 lbs.
Priority Mail Flat Rate

$1.25 for Large Flat Rate Boxes
$0.70 for all other Flat Rate Products

USPS Ground Advantage Zone 5-9

$0.35 cents increase for Zones 5-9, 0-3 lbs.
$0.75 cents increase for Zones 5-9, 4-10 lbs.
$1.25 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 lbs.
$5.50 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 lbs.
Priority Mail Express:

$1.00 increase for Zones 1-4, 0-3 lbs.
$1.75 increase for Zones 5-9, 0-3 lbs.
$1.50 increase for Zones 1-4, 4-10 lbs.
$3.95 increase for Zones 5-9, 4-10 lbs.
$3.50 increase for Zones 1-4, 11-25 lbs.
$7.50 increase for Zones 5-9, 11-25 lbs.
$8.95 increase for Zones 1-4, 26-70 lbs.
$13.00 increase for Zones 5-9, 26-70 lbs.
Priority Mail Express Flat Rate

$1.75 for Flat Rate Envelopes

We know that's a lot to look through, but it should give you an idea of how much you to plan on paying in order to get holiday packages shipped to your loved ones across the country and around the world.

We have confirmed that one other delivery specialist, Santa Claus, will not be raising his delivery rates this year; we'll just hold on to that as our Christmas Miracle for now.