Address Panel Design Changes

Addresses must be in the top half of the longest edge of a mail piece. Addresses must either be perpendicular to the bottom or right read horizontal (not upside down in relation to the bottom).

Example scenarios
All envelopes will now have the address block staggered off center, and self mailers will need mailer panels to accommodate these standards.

If addresses run parallel to a spine of a landscape book, the address block will be staggered off center.

If addresses run parallel to a spine of a portrait book, the address block can be at the top or bottom of the page.

In cases of the address running perpendicular to a spine; the spine will be the lead (right) edge, and the address must be right reading (not upside down).

This applies to all classes of mail, excluding straight first class (full postage).

For a poster of the changes, please download:
https://www.kickshout.com/i/USPSposter.pdf

NCOALink Database

NCOALink is a database owned and updated by the United States Postal Service (USPS), containing approximately 160 Million permanent change-of-address (COA) records filed with the USPS over the last 48 months.

NCOA Full Service Processing

Effective November 23, 2008 the Postal Service increased its effort to improve the percentage of deliverable mail by revising the Move Update standards. The Move Update standards provide ways for mailers to reduce the number of mailpieces that require forwarding or return by the periodic matching of a mailer's address records with customer-filed change-of-address orders. The final rule published Sept. 23, 2007, included the following changes related to Move Update processing:

• Increase the minimum frequency of Move Update processing from 185 calendar days to 95 days prior to the date of mailing.
• Extend the revised Move Update standards to include all Standard Mail (letters, flats, parcels and Not Flat- Machinables), as well as automation-rate and presort-rate First-Class Mail.

We recommend these authorized methods for Standard Mail to qualify for the Move Update standards:

• NCOALink Full Service processing. (National Change of Address)
• Alternative addressing - Add "OR CURRENT RESIDENT" or "OR CURRENT OCCUPANT" to your addresses.

Postal Service Price Increase Went Into Effect May 11th

The US Postal Service has announced new pricing for a wide range of USPS products and services, including a two-cent increase in first-class mail postage from 42 cents to 44 cents. In recent years, the USPS has adjusted its pricing in the month of May, and this year is no exception with prices having changed on May 11.

Customers can continue to mail letters at the 42-cent rate even after the rate increase if they purchased Forever Stamps before May 11. Forever Stamps were developed to help consumers ease the transition during price changes by providing a way to lock in the price of first-class mail at the time of purchase. They do not have a denomination and will be honored whenever they are used, even if prices subsequently increase. You can purchase Forever Stamps for 44 cents each until May of 2010, at which point they will most likely increase again.