USPS To Raise First Class Postage By a Penny Starting in January 2012

WASHINGTON — Beginning early next year, it will cost just a penny more to mail letters to any location in the United States, the first price change for First-Class Mail stamps (Forever stamps) in more than two and a half years. The new 45-cent price for Forever stamps is among price changes filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission today.

JANUARY 22, 2012 MAILING SERVICES PRICE CHANGE

BACKGROUND:

Prices for most Postal Service mailing services will change on January 22, 2012. Mailing services includes First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, Periodicals, Package Services and Extra Services. Prices for shipping services will also change on January 22. We will provide customers the new shipping services prices later this fall.

While actual percentage price increases for various products and services varies, the overall average price increase across all mailing services is capped by law at 2.1 percent, the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index.

FIRST-CLASS MAIL HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Letters (1 oz.) – 1-cent increase to 45 cents. This is the first increase in the price of a First-Class Mail stamp since May 2009.
  • Single-piece letters additional ounce rate – unchanged at 20 cents.
  • Postcards – 3-cent increase to 32 cents
  • Letters to Canada or Mexico (1 oz.) – 5-cent increase to 85 cents
  • Letters to other international destinations – 7-cent increase to $1.05
  • The second ounce will be free for First-Class Mail Presort pieces weighing between one and two ounces.


ADDITIONAL PRICE ADJUSTMENT HIGHLIGHTS:

  • The price increase for Standard Mail Letters is slightly below the overall average at less
    than 1.9 percent
  • A new 3-month pricing option will be available to rent PO Boxes for people on the move and others that need a PO Box for a shorter time period.
  • Delivery Confirmation will be free for several parcel products as the Postal Service continues to make tracking an integral component of parcels mailed at commercial rates.

ROLE OF THE POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION:

The new prices were filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission on Oct. 18, 2011. The Commission has 45 days to review the prices to verify they comply with the overall 2.1 percent price cap for each class of mail. The new prices will go into effect on Jan. 22, 2012.

Notice of USPS Rate Increase Filed With PRC

11 thoughts on “USPS To Raise First Class Postage By a Penny Starting in January 2012

  1. THE PRESORT DISCOUNT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABOLISHED A LONG TIME AGO. THE MACHINES DO ALL THAT WORK NOW AND LETTERS DO NOT NEED TO BE WORKED BY THE MAILERS ANYMORE. I GET PHYSICALLY SICK WHEN I SEE LETTERS PASSING BY ME FOR 8 CENTS. JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE A NON-PROFIT COMPANY, HAVE TO TURN A PROFIT. THEY GET ENOUGH TAX BREAKS TO PAY A LITTLE MORE THAN 6-8 CENTS. WHAT FUCKING MORON THOUGHT THIS IDEA UP. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MANAGEMENT THAT RUINS THIS JOB, YEAR AFTER YEAR. AND IMAGINE THESE SCUMBAGS LIKE THE POSTMASTER GENERAL IN WASHINGTON COLLECTING BONUSES FOR THERE FAILURES. YOU ONLY GET BONUSES WHEN YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL, NOT FOR FAILURE.

  2. I thinks USPS should increase two more cents for next year January. 22 . 2012. Also, usps should pay attention for those customers who try to send media mail parcel even though there are not media mail suppose to send it. Inside of media mail someone tried to send clothings, foods, medications, ect. Beside that, a lot of customers paid less money by click n ship online, but they sent more weights in parcel. Such as they paid 3 ounces parcel, but a parcel was one pound or more. Small flat rate box paid online, they used lager flat rate box or different box from customer. Thank you for your times to read my massages today and I hope USPS will growing up next year.

  3. I thinks USPS should increase two cents for next year January. 22 . 2012. Also, usps shou la lot of people trying to cheat send

  4. Here is a fact Jack:

    APWU COPA fund gave Congressman Darrel Issa, the most hated man in the Postal political arena, $5,000.00 during the 2010 election cycle. That was your dues money bruthas and sistas! Keep em coming!

  5. Re:Sorter Guy:Please try to comprehend the following;200,000 retirees collecting an average of 30,000 dollars a year cost the PO 6 billion dollars a year in pensions! Where do you think this money has to come from?We are not paid by the federal govt.The PO pays our pension.Do you think this 5 billion every year will be able to cover the cost of additional retirees? Eventually when the po is extinct 10 years from now pensions will be drastically reduced for everyone and eventually the pension money will run out and we will be living in parks and shelters because there will be no more money for welfare! So this 5 billion that is paid for us every year will eventually have to be raised even more in the future the cover the additional pensions of these future retirees as well as the present ones who are still living!

  6. It’s funny how some people complain about a $0.01 increase to one ounce mail. Our friends across the pond pay a lot more for their “private post office” to do provide the same service. The day the post office goes under, is the day that email becomes taxed by the Gov’t. Just remember that currently the USPS pays 5 billion dollars a year into the Federal Government. The only agency that doesn’t get a dime from taxpayers, that is unless you use their service, has to “lend” the Government that money.

  7. ONE CENT. My God! Wait till John Stewart hears about this, *hit will hit the fan. ONE CENT in two and a half. Year. 😉

  8. As per usual,the direct marketers,non-profits,periodicals,media mail, and standard mailers will pay next to nothing,and thus everyone else must continue to subsidize these pay-nothings.BTW,why is no mention made of the free(franked) postage still being given out to the very people that are trying to subversivly destroy the USPS…those lazy,crooked,freeloading SOBs in Washington!When USPS is gone,who is going to deliver their propaganda for free,let alone deliver it at all?

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