The price of a U.S. First-Class postage stamp will increase another 2 cents, from 42- to 44-cents on Monday, May 11.
The price increase, says the USPS, is necessary because of rising operational costs. “The Postal Service is not immune to rising costs which are affecting homes and businesses across America today,” said Postmaster General John Potter in a press release. “Even with the increases, the Postal Service continues to offer some of the lowest postage prices in the world.”
According to Potter, the First-Class postage increase will cost the average American family about an additional $3.00 a year. “When compared to annual increases in other household expenses, such as groceries, healthcare and utilities, the Postal Service continues to be an economical choice for shipping and mailing during tough economic times,” stated the USPS.
As always, all Forever Stamps purchased before the May 11 rate increase will continue to get your mail delivered. On May 11, the price of Forever Stamps will also increase to 44-cents.
The per-ounce postage rate for letters weighing over one ounce will not increase, remaining at 17-cents per ounce.
All new U.S. postage rates to be effective on May 11, can be viewed at: http://www.usps.com/prices
Also See:
Forever Stamp Sales Soar Ahead of Postage Hike (2008)
USPS Unveils 50s Classic Car Stamps
Elvis is Also King of U.S. Stamps
Comments
How is it possible, that on May 10th, on the official U.S.P.S. website, you give a link to the new postage rates to take effect on May 11th, and that link takes me to a U.S.P.S. website that says the price of a stamp is $0.42!
It seems you are more interested in selling scales, etc. than in providing correct information. Why are you so wrong?
Because the USPS does not change its rates page until the day the rates change. They have posted the new (May 11) rates here:
http://www.usps.com/prices/pricechanges.htm?from=prices&page=NewMay09Prices
And on Monday May 11, the 1st class rate goes to, yep… .44 cents/oz.
If I put letters with .42 stamps in a US Mail Box today that is not pickup up until tomorrow (Monday), will the Post Office deliver them?
Doug – It depends on when your Post Office cancels the letter. If it won’t be picked up until after midnight, better add a 2-center to it.
Robert
Just to clarify, I live in an apt, and I didn’t know about the postal increase until today (Monday) but put lots of mail in the box at my apt complex on Sunday, they pick up usually in the afternoon on Monday, so does this mean that those 2 cents will be charged to the person intended to receive the mail or will they be returned to me?
How do explain to an 83 yr old woman that the Forever Stamps she purchased are still good, even though the price went up! It will just cost more when she gets ready to reorder. LOL
What about postcards etc?
I’ve stumbled upon this news as an About.com subscriber. Stamp increases have NOT been in the news at all, otherwise wouldn’t have mailed a bunch of bills today with .42 on them.
How ridiculous is this!
Kathy — Standard sized post cards are 28 cents. See:
http://www.usps.com/prices/first-class-mail-prices.htm
Robert
The USPS really blows. If they return my jury duty thing I sent today then I am going to go postal on them. Damn govies want me to do stupid jury duty and they make me pay for a stamp. F-that.
Found out about postage increase via Jay Leno last night. Can’t believe I haven’t heard before. Mailed 3 things this week with .42, hope they don’t come back since one was a b-day card. Would have been nice to have been notified by mail since it is mail prices that increased. Is that too much to ask?
Oh for pete sake! Someone in front of me at the Post Office complained (very loudly) about the price of stamps going up 2 Cents! Ya, as she stood there holding a $1.89 bottle of water………as she stood close to a water fountain!! Dah!
If I put two .41 cent stamps on a letter, will it be returned to me because there is too much postage?
No, the USPS never returns mail for too much postage. They just thank you silently for the donation. I personally think this is one of the reasons they give some lee-way, sometimes, though.
I think that if the letter is found in a blue box on the day of the postal increase, that the old rate will still be accepted. They assume that you deposited it the day before after the final collection. I am sure that is true for metered mail, and it only makes sense for stamped mail, as well. I do not know if this goes for a letter in your own box with the flag up, but I would think that it would.
I have many stamps with no amount on them. It says first class. How do I know how much they are worth?
Ann (16): Hi Ann — Do the stamps say, “USA FIRST CLASS Forever” and have a picture of the Liberty Bell on them? If so, they are Forever stamps, meaning they are good for whatever the current First-Class postage rate is.
See:
http://usgovinfo.about.com/b/2008/05/02/forever-stamp-sales-soar-ahead-of-postage-hike.htm
Robert
i sent out many postcards yesterday, the 10th with the 28 cent stamps, and they came back to me today. they were stamped or cancelled on the tenth and should have been considered legitimately postaged. any comments please!!