USPS: First Class Stamps To Increase Two Cents On May 11

February 10, 2009 by postal
Filed under: postal, press releases, rate increase, stamps, usps 

Postal Service Mailing Services Prices to Change on May 11

Annual Pricing Review Results in 2¢ Increase in First-Class Mail Stamp

WASHINGTON — The Governors of the U.S. Postal Service have approved new prices for mailing services, including a 2-cent increase in the price of a First-Class Mail stamp to 44 cents. Prices for mailing services are reviewed annually and adjusted each May. The new prices will go into effect Monday, May 11. 

Customers can continue to mail letters at today’s prices by purchasing the Forever Stamp before May 11. Forever Stamps were developed to help consumers ease the transition during price changes. Forever Stamps do not have a denomination and will be honored whenever they are used with no need for additional postage for a one-ounce letter mailing. On May 11 the price of the Forever Stamp will be 44 cents. 

The new prices are available at usps.com/prices.

Rising operational costs make the price adjustments necessary; the increase tracks the 2008 rate of inflation. “The Postal Service is not immune to rising costs which are affecting homes and businesses across America today,” said Postmaster General John Potter. “Even with the increases, the Postal Service continues to offer some of the lowest postage prices in the world.”

For the average household, the First-Class Mail stamp price change will represent an additional $3 over the course of the 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. For First-Class Mail, there will be no changes in the current additional ounce price, which remains at 17 cents.

“Whether you’re a consumer or run a business, the Postal Service continues to offer a good deal during a time when we’re all looking for ways to save,” said Stephen M. Kearney, senior vice president for customer relations. “Our range of shipping and mailing options and low prices make the Postal Service the smart and easy choice.”

The Postal Service has taken bold steps in recent years to adapt products and services to meet changing economic realities and the ways businesses operate and consumers live today. In Post Offices across the country and through usps.com, the Postal Service offers businesses and consumers easier access, quicker transactions, greater convenience and on-time delivery. The Postal Service set record on-time delivery scores for the delivery of First-Class Mail in 2008 and was voted by consumers as the most trusted government agency for the fifth consecutive year.

 

Tags:

Comments

13 Comments on USPS: First Class Stamps To Increase Two Cents On May 11

  1. sd carrier on Tue, 10th Feb 2009 5:43 pm

    2. This will go over great! The public already thinks we are going to 5 day delivery, so lets hit them with a cost increase!

  2. mailmover on Tue, 10th Feb 2009 6:25 pm

    3. shouldn’t we fire about 80-90% of management before we screw over our customers?

  3. Senator Widestance on Wed, 11th Feb 2009 4:18 am

    4. Potter needs to go.

  4. Shelley Kelly on Wed, 11th Feb 2009 6:34 am

    5. Here comes the postal death spriral.

  5. VP of Postal Death Spiral on Thu, 12th Feb 2009 3:21 am

    6. I’m on it!

  6. PMG Potter on Mon, 16th Feb 2009 6:46 pm

    7. No death spiral. I will fire thousands of craft in the coming months and give myself a big fat raise for my accomplishments. Then another dozen or so new Vice Presidents.

  7. PMG Squatter on Thu, 26th Feb 2009 4:41 am

    8. Hey all of you sons of bitches would give your self a big fat raise if you could!! I’m trying to teach you people an example. When times are tough, screw everyone else, just think of yourself. I think I will make this our new usps logo and in 2010 I will put it on a stamp!! Don’t do as I say, do as I do!! Thats another good phrase I like to use!! Let me know which one I should use!!

  8. C LOCKE on Thu, 26th Feb 2009 11:38 am

    9. “PROMISES.PROMISES,PROMISES!!!!!” THEY SAID ONE YEAR AGO THAT AN INCREASE WAS REALLY NOT ESSENTIAL. NOW ANOTHER INCREASE!BS, BS,BS!!!
    IT’S ABOUT TIME THE PRIVATE SECTOR TOOK THE PO OVER! TOTAL MISMANAGEMENT!!! TYPICAL GOVERNMENT.

  9. JACK on Wed, 4th Mar 2009 5:11 am

    10. C LOCKE, you are definetly not a postmaster, you have to much logic. Thats part of the screeing process involved in becomeing a postmaster. It like well… nope throw this one out far too intlelligent, they might catch on to this f@$%ed up operation. One question is do you enjoy computer games… good! Do you like to gossip on the phone… excellent. Your hired!!!

  10. Tired, tired, tired on Tue, 21st Apr 2009 3:21 pm

    11. Since I buy 100 stamps at a time I will again have to buy two-cent stamps since I still have stamps left. I did the same thing last year. The USPS delivery guy in the truck will not deliver packages to my apartment because I live on the fourth floor in a building WITH an elevator. He told me his union said he does not have too. His supervisor said the same thing. I’m told it doesn’t pay to get in touch with the Postmaster General and I agree. So now I have UPS or FedEx as my carriers of choice. Unbelievable.

  11. Annoyed on Fri, 1st May 2009 8:38 am

    12. I personally don’t really care if the postage rate increases. I barely use stamps anyway so I’m not losing a lot of money; I send e-cards, I have automatic debit for my bills, etc. UNFORTUNATELY, I didn’t learn about the increase until I’d already sent out my wedding invitations and had included self-addressed stamped (42-cent) envelopes for my reply cards. So when my guests RSVP, I hope they send them before the rate change date (May 11?), otherwise they’re going to have it sent back needing postage again! How very annoying. The rate just went up last year, so I hadn’t even thought to check if the stamp price would go up… ugh

  12. Retired carrier on Fri, 8th May 2009 5:01 pm

    13. Annoyed; Don’t worry, your RSVP’S will not be returned for postage, they will arrive at your mailbox 2 cents postage due. Any good carrier will do as I did while I was still working and pay the 2 cents out of their pocket. You are getting married and have enough to take care of, you don’t need this added hassle. Good luck in your marriage!

  13. ? on Sat, 9th May 2009 5:12 am

    14. I also have not used up my 42 cent sunflower stamps can I exchange them for the 44 cent ones and pay the difference?