Supplement: June 2002 Postage Rates

New Postal Rates Effective June 30 2002

According to a message posted on its web site (http://www.usps.com/ratecase/why_rates.htm), the rising costs for fuel and health benefits greatly affected the USPS to request the most recent rate increase.  In that same message, consumers are reminded that mail volume increases an average of  1.6 million each year and the USPS "receives no tax dollars for operations and relies solely on the sale of its products and services to cover its operating costs."

This latest rate case includes some changes to classification as well as a new Non-Machinable surcharge that could increase your postage by 1/2 to 4 cents per piece. There are several factors that influence your mailing costs such as design, list quality and postage.  You still have time to get the most for each dollar spent in each of these categories.  We'll help you increase response and lower costs.  Please contact a CCI representative for more information on how the new rules and rates will affect you.

The chart below is a continuation of a rate comparison we started in Dec 2000.  It contains only a sampling of the various classes, sortation levels and fees included in this latest increase.  Remember, the USPS is the only authorized source of postal information.

Class Level Pre-2001 Jan 2001 Jul 2001 Jun 2002 Inc.
1st Class Letter Single 0.330 0.340 0.340 0.370 8.8%
  Basic 0.270 0.278 0.280 0.309 10.4%
  3-Digit 0.261 0.267 0.269 0.292 8.6%
  5-Digit 0.243 0.253 0.255 0.278 9.0%
  Carrier Route 0.238 0.243 0.245 0.275 12.2%
1st Class Postcard Size Single 0.200 0.200 0.210 0.230 9.5%
Basic 0.166 0.164 0.174 0.194 11.5%
  3-Digit 0.159 0.158 0.168 0.183 8.9%
5-Digit 0.146 0.151 0.161 0.176 9.3%
  Carrier Route 0.141 0.140 0.150 0.170 13.3%
1st Class Flat Basic 0.300 0.310 0.312 0.341 9.3%
  3-Digit 0.270 0.295 0.297 0.322 8.4%
  5-Digit 0.270 0.275 0.277 0.302 9.0%
STD Mail Letter Basic 0.235 0.250 0.253 0.268 5.9%
3/5 Digit 0.207 0.230 0.233 0.248 6.4%
  Auto Basic 0.183 0.197 0.200 0.219 9.5%
Auto 3-Digit 0.176 0.187 0.190 0.203 6.8%
  Auto 5-Digit 0.160 0.174 0.177 0.190 7.3%
Walk Seq. Saturation 0.130 0.143 0.145 0.152 4.8%
STD Mail Flat Basic 0.304 0.319 0.322 0.344 6.8%
3/5 Digit 0.240 0.263 0.266 0.288 8.3%
  Auto Basic 0.245 0.275 0.278 0.300 7.9%
Auto 3/5 Digit 0.203 0.236 0.239 0.261 9.2%
  Walk Seq. Saturation 0.140 0.147 0.149 0.160 7.4%
Periodical Rates Basic 0.294 0.325 0.333 0.373 12.0%
  3-Digit 0.253 0.276 0.283 0.324 14.5%
5-Digit 0.197 0.214 0.219 0.256 16.9%
  Carrier Route 0.122 0.136 0.139 0.163 17.3%
Walk Seq. Saturation 0.085 0.093 0.095 0.112 17.9%
Annual Mailing Permit Fee   $100.00 $125.00 $125.00 $150.00 20.0%