US mail rates will only change once a year, not more often

The US Postal Regulatory Commission wants to limit how often it can change mail rates. It also wants to make sure that discounts for companies that do some of the mail sorting themselves actually match the Post Office's cost savings.

For years, the Post Office could change rates for things like letters and marketing mail more than once a year. This made it hard for businesses to plan their budgets. The new rule means businesses can count on stable rates for a full fiscal year. It also closes a loophole that let some companies get bigger discounts than they earned, which means the Post Office will keep more money.