USPS Raises Rates

The US Postal Service announced its plan to increase its mailing rates. Effective Monday, May 11, 2009, the price for a 1-ounce First-Class Mail stamp will increase from 42 cents to 44 cents. The rate for additional ounces will remain at 17 cents per ounce.

Prices for most shipping services like Express Mail and Priority Mail will still reflect the January rate increases. The prices for standard mail, periodicals, package services, extra services will increase. For a detailed list of the new prices, please check the USPS Complete Price List.

The USPS will continue to sell their Forever Stamps for 42 cents until May 11. Forever stamps remain valid regardless of rate hikes – no additional postage will be necessary after the rate change.

While the rate hike will help ease the current financial burden of the USPS, it is not the prescription they need to cure their economic woes. Raising rates will not get them out of the crisis they are in. The USPS needs to come up with new and possibly controversial ways to cut their major costs – and I’m not talking about another bail-out.

USPS to Raise Rates in May