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Entry bubble Stamp Price Increase

By: Colleen | February 11, 2009 | Category: Money

Last week, Jake discussed the idea of the U.S. Postal Service cutting back its delivery services to five days a week.stamps

While that idea is still being tossed around, the USPS has announced that as of May 11th, 2009, the price of postage stamps will increase by 2 cents. That means, it will now set you back 44 cents to send a standard letter.

Since rising costs are the norm right now, the postal service increases rates annually in May and the change is tied to the rate of inflation from the year before. The increase is estimated to cost the average household an additional $3 per year.

Other changes include:

  • A postcard stamp increases one cent to 28 cents.
  • The first ounce of a large envelope increases 5 cents to 88 cents.
  • The first ounce of a parcel increases 5 cents to $1.22.
  • International postcard and letter prices, for one ounce, are 75 cents to Canada, 79 cents to Mexico, and 98 cents elsewhere.

Before May 11th, you might want to stock up on Forever Stamps, which still sell at the 42-cent rate until the increase occurs.

| Post a Comment | View Comments [5] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: colleen   stamps   us_postal_service   usps  

Comments (5):

blue comment bubble Posted by Andy on February 11, 2009 at 10:18 AM EST

Why aren't we seeing more use of technology by the post office to reduce costs - saw this interesting post on a twitter feed that if the post office was doing I'd be more inclined to give my personal information to http://beta.zumbox.com/

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blue comment bubble Posted by Michael E. Douroux on February 11, 2009 at 11:43 AM EST

Subject: Financial Conservation - Relying on the Integrity of Individual Common Sense

John Muir's long walks through the Sierra Nevada mountain range was an individual, seminal event that began a grassroots groundswell that evolved into the American conservation movement.

Similarly, the long term solution to the current financial crisis that has enveloped the world will not come from the top down, but rather must begin with a change in perspective at the individual level.

Fortunately, the individual has a big head start. The basic principles and benefits of conserving our natural resources for current and future generations have, for the most part, entered the collective consciousness. Financial Conservation is a slight broadening in the application of these very same insights to our individual financial resources. Relying on the integrity of individual common sense and bringing awareness to the necessity of "Core Asset Preservation" for the individual to stay in step with the normal life cycles, I believe, is the way forward.

Additionally, many of the frontline casualties in the massive triage and cost-cutting we see the government and business world applying to this situation are the conservation and humanitarian organizations whose survival depends on financial responsibility. The perspective of Financial Conservation will help to ensure the ongoing funding sources for these vitally important human endeavors.

Best regards,

Michael E. Douroux
Hollywood, Florida



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blue comment bubble Posted by tony baker on February 11, 2009 at 12:41 PM EST

MAYBE A WEEK DAY WOULD WITHOUT MAIL DELIVERY WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA, I THINK TUESDAY WOULD BE THE DAY TO BUT WHEN A HOLIDAY FALLS ON MONDAY THEN THERE WILL BE TWO LESS DAYS OF DELIVERY, SO WHAT TO DO???? IS THIS ALL SO IMPORTANT,
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO NEED TO LEARN TO READ AND BEFORE THAT HAPPENS WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THEY ALL HAVE FOOD TO KEEP THEM HEALTHY SO THEY CAN DO ALL THE OTHER THINGS THE REST OF US ENJOY...JUST A THOUGHT

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blue comment bubble Posted by Ted on February 14, 2009 at 12:31 AM EST

I think that limiting deliveries to 5 days per week is long over due. In fact, as far as I am concerned deliveries to residential customers could be cut to 4 days per week.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Jane Q. America on February 24, 2009 at 06:39 AM EST

The postal service, as far as I am concerned, is doing nothing to deserve an increase. And the USPS will not deliver packages to me because I live on the 4th floor of an elevator building. How's that for service? I'm told by my mailman that their union says they don't have to (not him he delivers my letters and is a sweetheart). I called the supervisor and yes, this is true. That is some union. So what is the purpose of the USPS trucks?

Now the sick, elderly and disabled are at the mercy of the United States Post Office. This is a federal agency and yet we have to pay more??? Last year I bought 100 stamps and I have not used them all so AGAIN I must buy, before May 11th, either many two-cent stamps or Forever Stamps. Have you seen some of the subsitutes when the regular mailman/mailwoman is on vacation? With Bluetooth stuck on their ear he or she is talking and putting mail in the box at the same time. Result: wrong mail in wrong box but I guess the union would say its alright. Wrong!

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