January 10, 2013

Postal Rate Hikes to Take Effect January 27th

It will cost a penny more to mail a single-piece, 1-ounce First-Class letter to any location in the United States. The January 27, 2013, price change is the second price change for First-Class Mail stamps since 2009. Forever stamps are always good for mailing a one-ounce letter anytime in the future regardless of changes.

The new single-piece First-Class Mail pricing by USPS means letters weighing 1 oz. or less will now cost 46 cents to mail. The additional ounce rate for letters will remain unchanged at 20 cents. The cost of mailing postcards will increase one cent to 33 cents.

In addition to the price hike, the USPS also announced the new First-Class Mail Global Forever stamp, a new international rate stamp. The Global Forever stamp offers a single price for any First-Class Mail International 1-ounce letter to any country in the world.

"We're excited to introduce the new First-Class Mail Global Stamp," said Memphis Postmaster Monica March. "The new stamp will allow customers to mail letters anywhere in the world for one set price of $1.10, and will ease the transition during price changes."

Prices for shipping services increased by 2.6 percent, with Priority Mail prices increasing an average of 6.3 percent. Delivery confirmation will be free on Priority Mail and Standard Post (formerly named Parcel Post).

Priority Mail Flat-Rate product costs will now be $5.60 for a regular envelope; $5.75 for a legal-size envelope; $5.95 for a padded envelope; $5.80 for a small box; $12.35 for a medium box and $16.85 for a large box.

"The success of our Priority Mail Flat Rate envelopes and boxes has helped make the Postal Service one of the best values in the shipping business," adds March.

More information on new pricing for Mailing and Shipping Services is available at www.usps.com.

Express Mail prices increased on average by 5.8 percent. The Sunday/holiday premium remains at $12.50 for the fourth year in a row. No other charges apply. Express Mail Flat-Rate Boxes were introduced last year and remain unchanged at $39.95. Express Mail retail prices begin at $14.10. Express Mail Flat-Rate Envelope retail prices increase to $19.95.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations that reach every address in the nation - 151 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes.

With 32,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, usps.com, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $65 billion and delivers nearly 40 percent of the world's mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 35th in the 2011 Fortune 500.