FedEx and UPS announce rate increases for 2008

[mandy]

2008 FedEx Rate Changes*

The rate changes below reflect available information as of October 26, 2007. Check the News box on the fedex.com home page to find out when new updates are available here.
FedEx Express Standard List Rates
(Effective January 7, 2008)

    * FedEx Express package and freight rates will increase an average of 6.9% for U.S. and U.S. export services. The fuel price at which surcharges begin will be adjusted effective January 7, 2008, resulting in a 2.0% overall fuel surcharge reduction and a net average rate increase of 4.9%.
    * Preview express rates.
    * FedEx Express U.S. import rates will change. Preview import rates, beginning November 2, 2007.
    * FedEx Express U.S. rates to Puerto Rico will change.
    * FedEx International Premium® rates will change.
    * There will be some changes to FedEx International Priority® and FedEx International Economy® minimum rates.

more info: http://www.fedex.com/us/rates2008/

[amy]

[mandy]

UPS announcing rate increases:

Carriers UPS and FedEx Corp. have announced average shipping rate increases of 4.9% for 2008. DHL says it will announce its 2008 rates next week...

The 4.9% rate increases—which result in an average shipping cost increase of less than 50 cents on the typical under-$10 fee for ground-shipping a small package—have the biggest impact on merchants emphasizing the sale of low-margin products, Madlem adds. “Carrier rate hikes are partially responsible for a noticeable trend in the retail industry,” he says. “In recent years, merchants with lower price points have felt the brunt of the pain as periodic rate hikes accumulate.”...

The new UPS rate structure will take effect Dec. 31, 2007, when rates will increase by a net average of 4.9% for UPS Ground, Ground Hundredweight and all air express and U.S.-origin international shipments...

full article: http://www.internetretailer.com/dailyNews.asp?id=24519