U.S. Postal Service to raise prices on January 21

NORTHEAST OREGON — Those who still use snail mail need to prepare for an increase in the cost of mailing letters and packages.

Starting Sunday, Jan. 21, the U.S. Postal Service will increase stamp prices from 66 cents to 68 cents for letters weighing one ounce or less.

Package shipping costs are also slated to increase by nearly six percent, with Priority Mail Express costs going up by 5.9 percent, Priority Mail increasing 5.7 percent, and Ground Advantage going up 5.4 percent.

The price hikes, the fifth increase in two years, are part of the Postal Service’s ten-year ‘Delivering for America’ plan to raise rates and recover from plunging profits – a projected $160 billion loss over the next ten years.

“As inflationary pressures on operating expenses continue and the effects of a previously defective pricing model are still being felt, these price adjustments are needed to provide the Postal Service with much needed revenue to achieve the financial stability sought by its Delivering for America 10-year plan,” the Postal Service said when it announced the changes. “The prices of the Postal Service remain among the most affordable in the world.”

Other rate increases include:

• Letters, metered, 1 ounce: Increase from 63 cents to 64 cents
• Domestic postcards: Increase from 51 cents to 53 cents
• International postcards: Increase from $1.50 to $1.55
• International letter, 1 ounce: Increase from $1.50 to $1.55

The last increase took effect in July, when the cost of mailing a letter went from 63 cents to 66 cents. Other rates also increased then.

For the consumer, there is one step that can stall the impacts of the price increase.

Since Forever Stamps are good for, well, forever, consumers can avoid the effects of the increase by stocking up ahead of time before the price increases. Even when the cost rises to 68 cents a letter, the Forever Stamp purchased for 66 cents will remain valid.

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Elkhorn Media Group