XN000022-1993-06-09 — Page 2

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1993

THE

REVISION OF PRINCIPAL POSTAGE RATES AND

MISCELLANEOUS FEES AND CHARGES

**

POSTMASTER GENERAL, MR M PAGLIARI, ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT PRINCIPAL POSTAGE RATES AND MISCELLANEOUS POSTAL FEES AND CHARGES WOULD BE INCREASED AS FROM NOVEMBER 1.

THESE RATES AND CHARGES WERE LAST REVISED ON APRIL 1, 1991 MORE THAN TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS AGO.

COMMENTING ON THE REVISED RATES, MR PAGLIARI SAID:

IN

"AS A RESULT OF THE SHARP INCREASE IN OPERATING EXPENDITURE THE PAST TWO YEARS DUE ΤΟ HIGH INFLATION, SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED STAFF COSTS, HIGHER OUTPAYMENTS TO OVERSEAS POSTAL ADMINISTRATIONS AND HIGHER COST OF MAIL CONVEYANCE, IT IS NECESSARY TO REVISE POSTAGE RATES AND CHARGES IN ORDER TO RESTORE THEIR REAL VALUE".

THE

THE OVERALL WEIGHTED AVERAGE RATE OF INCREASE FOR PRINCIPAL POSTAGE RATES WILL BE 20%, WHICH IS BELOW THE RATE OF INFLATION OF 23.5% SINCE THE LAST INCREASE IN APRIL 1991, HE ADDED.

THE BASIC RATES FOR LOCAL LETTERS AND PRINTED PAPERS WILL BE INCREASED BY 20 CENTS, THAT IS, FROM 80 CENTS TO $1 FOR LETTERS, AND FROM 70 CENTS TO 90 CENTS FOR PRINTED PAPERS.

FOR SURFACE LETTERS AND PRINTED PAPERS то CHINA, MACAU AND TAIWAN, THE BASIC RATES WILL BE INCREASED FROM 90 CENTS TO $1.20 AND FROM 80 CENTS TO $1 RESPECTIVELY.

FOR SURFACE MAIL TO OTHER COUNTRIES, THE BASIC RATES WILL BE INCREASED FROM $1.70 TO $2 FOR LETTERS AND FROM $1.60 TO $1.80 FOR PRINTED PAPERS.

THE BASIC RATES FOR AIR MAIL LETTERS AND PRINTED PAPERS WILL BE INCREASED BY 10 CENTS.

FOR ZONE 1 (MAINLY ASIAN COUNTRIES), BASIC RATES AT THE FIRST WEIGHT STEP ARE INCREASED FROM $1.80 TO $1.90 FOR LETTERS AND FROM $1.20 TO $1.30 FOR PRINTED PAPERS.

FOR ZONE 2 (REST OF THE WORLD), BASIC RATES AT THE FIRST STEP ARE INCREASED FROM $2.30 TO $2.40 FOR LETTERS AND FROM $1.70 TO $1.80 FOR PRINTED PAPERS.

COMMENTING FURTHER ON THE POSTAGE RATES INCREASES, MR PAGLIARI SAID LOCAL AND SURFACE MAIL SERVICES HAD TRADITIONALLY BEEN OPERATING AT A LOSS.

THESE SERVICES ARE CURRENTLY BEING CROSS-SUBSIDISED BY OTHER PROFITABLE SERVICES SUCH AS AIR MAIL. THIS SITUATION IS PARTICULARLY MARKED IN THE PRINTED PAPER SERVICE WHICH IS LARGELY USED BY BUSINESSES FOR MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS AND PROMOTIONAL MAILINGS, SAID.

HE

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