Postage Rate Increase Takes Effect Monday

The price of a First-Class U.S. postage stamp increases to 41 cents on Monday, May 14. The last two postage rate increases came on Jan. 8, 2006 and June 30, 2002.

New rates for all U.S. postage and postal products can be found on the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Web site.

Consider buying Forever stamps: Now available from the USPS is the "Forever" stamp, which will remain valid as First-Class postage on standard envelopes weighing one ounce or less, regardless of any future increases in the First-Class rate. No more need to buy 2-cent stamps in order to use up your old stamps.

Why postage keeps going up: Among factors justifying the proposed postage rate increase, USPS cited increasing costs for fuel and employee health care. In 2005, the cost of providing health insurance to the more than 621,000 current employees and 445,000 retirees of the U.S. Postal Service hit a total of $6.6 billion.

Also See:
Postal Service Debt-free, But Still Raising Rates?
The Financial Woes of the US Postal Service (2001)
Postal Service: Government Agency or Private Business?