Postal and Industry Updates
Stability in a Changing Postal Landscape
Featured Updates
Deborah Damore and GrayHair Software bring you the latest from the USPS and the postal industry.
Upcoming Events
Join industry experts and peers as we explore new ideas, share practical strategies, and discuss the trends shaping our field.
Major USPS Pricing Shifts July 2026: What Your Business Needs to Know
Tue, Jun 9, 2026 12:00 PM CDT
Virtual Event – Zoom
Deborah Damore, Head of Postal Affairs, GrayHair Software
Register now to stay informed, reduce risk, and plan ahead.
Other Events
Atlantic Area AIM Meeting, June 2nd, New York, NY
PostCom Summer Meeting, June 2nd, 2026, Washington, DC
NPF Delivered Webinar, Major USPS pricing shifts, June 9th, 2026, Virtual
NPPC Summer Meeting, June 11th, 2026, Arlington, VA
IMPA Conference, June 14th – 16th, Greenville, SC
DTAC Summer Meeting, June 24th – 25th, Sussex, WI
Central Area AIM Meeting, June 30th, Palatine, IL
July MTAC July 28th – 29th, Washington DC
Bridge Conference July 29th – 31st, Washington Harbor, MD
PostCom Fall Meeting, September 23rd-24th, Alexandria, VA
DTAC Fall Meeting, September 24th – 25th, Alexandria.
National PCC Week, September 28th – October 2nd, Various
Rates, Pricing & Economics
What will mail cost, now and next?
2027 Promotions – What’s changed from 2026?
Adjusted Promotions: Tactile, Sensory & Interactive (MM, FCM), NEW two-tier discount structure, 3% for standard finishes, 5% for complex finishes. First-Class Advertising (FCM), now allowing marketing free standing inserts/coupons in FCM pieces to qualify, NEW...
Resources for the Market Dominant Rate Change
The USPS Market Dominant Price change will take effect on Sunday, July 12th , 2026. Remember this price change is more than just the 4.8% increase; there are several structural changes happening at the same time and require mailer systems and software to be updated....
Postal Regulatory Approves the Competitive Price Change
The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) has officially approved the Postal Service’s proposed rate and classification adjustments for competitive products, set to take effect July 12, 2026. Industry groups and the Public Representative raised concerns about the new...
Regulation, Compliance & PRC
What rules govern how we mail?
Federal Election Mail Update: New Proposed Rules for Mail-In and Absentee Ballots
Following the White House Executive Order 14399 ("Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections") issued on March 31, 2026, the United States Postal Service has put forward a new proposed rule AS REQUIRED by the EO, aimed at enhancing the...
Executive Order Impacting Mail in Ballots
On March 31, 2026, President Trump signed the Executive Order "Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections." This order introduces two major shifts: the creation of a federal "master list" of citizens for voter verification and new federal...
USPS on the Hill
Oversight of the U.S. Postal Service: The Financial Future Under Postmaster General Steiner The House government operation subcommittee will be holding a hearing today, March 17th with witness testimony from Postmaster General Steiner and David Marroni, Director,...
Operations, Network & Service
How is the mail actually moving?
Update on Ballot Mail for Federal Elections
The Postal Service published a proposed rule regarding the transmission of mail-in or absentee ballots for federal elections, as directed to by the White House Executive Order. Comments are due by July 2nd. After all comments are received and reviewed, the next step...
USPS Network Activation Update
The below maps and information were recently shared at the Atlantic Area AIM meeting. The Postal Service is showing they now have activated fifteen Regional Processing and Distribution Center (RPDC) regions as of May 2026. While the original strategic blueprint...
USPS Scanning Pilot (PDPV)
Earlier in the year February 9th, 2026 the Postal Service launched the Parcel Delivery Photo Verification Test (PDPV). The test was designed to evaluate an integrated feature in the mobile applications used by letter carriers, allowing them to snap a photo as physical...
Financials, Performance & Market Trends
Is USPS healthy? Who’s winning?
Six-Months of Historical Service Performance and Volume
These graphs show thirty weeks of service and volume information including the SPLY number in intervals of a week beginning with November 14th, 2025 through May 29th, 2026. The Postal Service included in these graphs the two largest winter storms, Storm Fern and Storm...
USPS Postage Forecast for 2027
New Inflationary factors suggest the CPI-U may be closer to 4% bringing a July 2027 estimate to 7.8%. CPI-U are forecasts and are subject to change with inflationary changes. Density Factor is forecast-based on increase in delivery points (approximately 1 - 2 million...
USPS Office of Inspector General Semiannual Report to Congress
The OIG is divided into three areas, (1) The Office of Audit, (2) Office of Investigations, and (3) The Research and Insights Solution Center. The Semiannual report to congress summarizes their important work. Over the last six months of the first half of the USPS...
Leadership, Strategy & USPS Direction
Who’s in charge and where are we going?
USPS Board of Governors (BOG) Update – June
The USPS BOG is comparable to the board of directors of a publicly held corporation. The board consists of up to nine Governors made up of industry individuals presidentially nominated and senate approved. The addition of the DeputyPMG and the Postmaster General make...
USPS Appointments and Retirements
There has been much activity in USPS leadership recently, and more is expected to be announced throughout the year. Sharon Owens, VP Pricing & Costing retired April 30th, 2026. Fiona Machado, has been appointed “Acting” Vice President, Pricing & Costing Fiona...
USPS Board of Governors Meeting
The USPS Board of Governors (BOG) held two meetings on Friday May 8th. A morning meeting which was closed under the sunshine act to discuss Strategic Matters, Financial and Operational Matters along with Administrative Matters. Often those meetings include items...
Industry Events & Context
The community and the big picture.
House Oversight Subcommittee on Government Operations Hearing
Subcommittee on Government Operations Chairman Pete Sessions (R-Texas) announced a hearing with the Commissioners of the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). This past March the committee held a hearing with witnesses PMG David Steiner and David Marroni Director,...
National Postal Forum Education Continues
The NPF has created a series of year-round online education opportunities for mailers and shippers under the banner of Delivered(™). The sessions are complementary and the topics vary designed to promote professional growth, operational excellence, and innovation....
Winner of the USPS Encore Stamp Contest Announced
In July 2025, as the United States Postal Service celebrated its 250th anniversary, they asked us which one of the 25 most popular stamp issuances from the last three decades we wanted them to reprint. After receiving over 500,000 votes they have a winner. Many of the...
About Deborah
Deborah Damore is the Head of Postal Affairs at GrayHair Software, bringing over 20 years of expertise in the mailing and logistics market. She specializes in driving success and innovation through enterprise-wide mail management solutions for diverse sectors, including financial services, insurance, direct marketing, and nonprofits.
A dedicated industry advocate, Deborah champions the interests of mailers and shippers nationwide. Her commitment is demonstrated by her leadership roles, including serving as the Industry Co-Chair of the Mailers Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC) and holding board positions with PostCom and the NPPC. She presents regularly at NPF, PCCs, AIMs, and Industry Trade conferences.
Her downtime, while limited, is spent with her growing family, traveling, and reading a good book.
