Postal Panel Wants Review of Rate Hike Blasted by Nonprofits

For the second time in less than two weeks, the Postal Regulatory Commission has ordered the U.S. Postal Service to review a planned rate increase on periodical mailings that has angered nonprofit magazine publishers, reports Postalnews.com, an industry news site. The Postal Service plan, scheduled to take effect April 26, could bring double-digit jumps in mailing costs for nonprofit magazines like Guideposts and Consumer Reports and force some to switch to web-only publication, according to industry leaders.

The postal commission ordered a review of the rate hike on March 6, but the Postal Service said last week that it was sticking by its plan. In the new order, the commission said the agency had not adequately addressed its prior concerns and failed to show that the proposed increase is in line with legal and regulatory requirements.