Washington, DC –The Postal Regulatory Commission invites press and interested parties to a short briefing on its decision in the U.S. Postal Service Request for an above inflation, “exigent” price increase for its market-dominant products. This is the first time that the issue of what is an “exceptional or extraordinary” circumstance will be decided under the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 (PAEA). Questions from the Press will be entertained following the briefing.

What:    The Commission will announce its decision on a closely watched case, the Postal Service exigent price increase request filed on July 6, 2010, seeking to increase prices by an average of 5.6 percent on its Market-Dominant products, including, but not limited to, First-Class and Standard letters and flats, Periodicals, and Standard packages.

Under the PAEA, price increases for Market-Dominant products are capped at the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U).  The Postal Service may request Market-Dominant increases above the rate of inflation, however, due to “extraordinary or exceptional” circumstances.

Commissioners and Commission staff
11:00 a.m., Thursday, September 30, 2010
Where: Hearing Room
Postal Regulatory Commission
901 New York Avenue, NW, Suite 200
Washington DC 20268