USPS: Prices Increase, Services Still at Risk
Stamps and priority mail services went up in price Sunday, and a new worldwide stamp is now available.
The price to send a letter just went up a penny, as stamps are now 46 cents.
This increase was part of the U.S. Postal Service hike on stamps and priority mail, which became effective Sunday. Even with the price hike, the USPS could run out of money within six months to a year if Washington doesn't act, according to NBC. Mail delivery could even stop for a period of time, Michael Crew, director of the Center for Research in Regulated Industries, told NBC.
If you want to plan ahead and avoid future (and probably inevitable) hikes, the USPS offers Forever Stamps, that are good for — well — as long as the Mail Service is delivering mail. They can be used on a letter of 1 ounce or less, and they are the same price of a regular stamp.
Here are the new USPS prices for stamps:
- Letters (1 oz.) — 1-cent increase to 46 cents
- Letters additional ounces — unchanged at 20 cents
- Postcards — 1-cent increase to 33 cents
The USPS will also introduce a new First-Class Mail Global Forever Stamp. The stamp allows people to mail letters anywhere in the world for $1.10.
In addition, several new shipping services products will be available in January. Free tracking will be offered to all packages, including retail Priority Mail and Parcel Post.
The Postal Service also increased Priority Mail rates:
- Small box — $5.80
- Medium box — $12.35
- Large box — $16.85
- Large APO/FPO box — $14.85
- Regular envelope — $5.60
- Legal envelope — $5.75
- Padded envelope — $5.95
Sharon Lank
1:08 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
Sign this petition and let's get the USPS finally into the digital age! Save millions on traditional postage with all the security and protections of traditional mail with email!
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/direct-us-postal-service-protect-and-deliver-email-mandated-us-constitution/lFDtfBcS
lilly lee
2:51 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
the price is going up yearly, but the service is getting worse. I sent a package and didn't delivered as promised. the tracking system only shows the package was pick up, no further information. I am calling them every day and every time they took my phone number and promise me they would call me " within 24 hours", or "within one full business" when I told them I didn't get call "within 24 hours". whatever the duration they told me, I never got a call. On top of that I was told what they can do is what I can do : just track the package online. I don't think any of them even try to put any efforts to help. should close the service. big waste of tax payer money.
Neil S. Friedman
4:05 pm on Saturday, February 2, 2013
Nobody likes to pay more, but, regardless of what one thinks of USPS service, it's still pretty economical and somewhat efficient--since the days of the Pony Express, anyway.
Is tracking free for first class, because I've been paying for it this past week.