Following extensive efforts by the ACMA and other mailing interests, the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) today issued a favorable ruling that prevents the US Postal Service from raising rates on market dominant mail products more than once a year between March 1, 2026 through September 30, 2030. Following a PRC ruling that paved the way for the USPS to raise rates twice a year between 2021 and 2024, the PRC concluded today that “things did not go well. Declines in the Postal Service’s financial situation, volume, and service performance have remained significant, if not worsened.” Following a “comprehensive and holistic review, the Commission determined that the system is not achieving the objectives taking into account the factors,” the PRC order said.

American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased 1% in December after rising 0.5% in November. In December, the index equaled 114.7 (2015=100) compared with 113.5 in November. “December’s gain was the fifth straight totaling 4.4%,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “In December, tonnage reached the highest level since March, but it was still 2.7% below the pre-pandemic high. This is likely due to the fact ATA’s data is dominated by contract freight. Contractor truckload carriers operated fewer trucks in 2021 compared with 2020 and it is difficult to haul significantly more tonnage with fewer trucks. But overall, we have seen a nice trend up that is reflective of a still growing goods-economy.” November’s reading was revised down from our December 21 press release.

American Dollar to Canadian Dollar = 0.746262; American Dollar to Chinese Yuan = 0.148696; American Dollar to Euro = 1.081597; American Dollar to Japanese Yen = 0.007780; American Dollar to Mexican Peso = 0.052911.