Print Sales Rose 5.8% in Christmas Week (publishersweekly.com)

The Postal Regulatory Commission submitted its FY 2021 Annual Report to the President and Congress. The Commission is required by statute to address information concerning the agency’s operations, including the extent to which regulations are achieving the objectives of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act. The Commission’s report must also include an estimate of the costs incurred by the Postal Service to provide certain services that the Postal Service would not otherwise have provided except for the requirements of the law, and further presents an estimate for the value of the postal monopoly. The Commission’s Annual Report also reflects the work it has done throughout the year as it continues to advance its mission to provide transparency and accountability of Postal Service operations. In addition to reviewing and approving planned rate changes for Market Dominant and Competitive products, new product proposals, and formal complaint adjudications, the Commission:

The United States Postal Service filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) of mailing services price changes to take effect July 9, 2023. The new rates include a three-cent increase in the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp from 63 cents to 66 cents. If favorably reviewed by the Commission, the proposed increases will raise First-Class Mail prices approximately 5.4 percent to offset the rise in inflation. The price changes have been approved by the Governors of the U.S. Postal Service. The price for 1-ounce metered mail will increase to 63 cents, and the price to send a domestic postcard will increase to 51 cents. A 1-ounce letter mailed to another country would increase to $1.50. There will be no change to the single-piece letter and flat additional-ounce price, which remains at 24 cents. The Postal Service is also seeking price adjustments for Special Services products including Certified Mail, Post Office Box rental fees, money order fees and the cost to purchase insurance when mailing an item.

Revenue at Simon & Schuster rose 10% in the second quarter ended June 30, 2017, over the comparable period in 2016, and operating income increased 8%, S&S parent company CBS reported. It was the second consecutive quarter that revenue at S&S grew by double digits in 2017. Revenue in the most recent period was $206 million, up from $187 million, and earnings rose to $28 million from $26 million a year ago. The increase was led by growth in print book sales as well as digital audio. Results also include Adams Media, which S&S bought last November. S&S CEO Carolyn Reidy said the company's children's, audio, and international divisions all had double digit sales increase in the quarter, while sales in the adult group rose by single digits. With digital audio posting another strong quarter, sales of the format were up 34% in the first half of 2017 over the same period of 2016. Reidy estimated that S&S will increase its title output of digital audio by 20% to 25% for the year. Click Read More below for additional detail.