New U.S.P.S. Prices for 2014

Just announced, these are the proposed price increases for 2014 for the U.S.P.S. From their press release:

"The United States Postal Service today announced proposed price changes, including an increase in the price of a First-Class Mail single-piece letter from 46 cents to 49 cents. The proposed changes, which would go into effect in January 2014, are intended to generate $2 billion in incremental annual revenue for the Postal Service.

Highlights of the new single-piece First-Class Mail pricing, effective Jan. 26, 2014 include:

• Letters (1 oz.) — 3-cent increase to 49 cents
• Letters additional ounces —  1-cent increase to 21 cents
• Letters to all international destinations (1 oz.) — $1.15
• Postcards — 1-cent increase to 34 cents

Stamp prices have stayed consistent with the average annual rate of inflation of 4.2 percent since the Postal Service was formed in 1971."

Commence the grousing over rising rates all you like. I think, after years talking about it, you know how I feel. Our postal rates are so reasonable. A three-cent hike worries me about as much as a three-cent hike on anything else I buy, which is not at all.  How do these increases effect you?

 

 

 

Comments

[Sheila A Beck]

Ironic..I am buying stamps tomorrow.

[Connie Rose]

Buy a bunch of Forevers before the end of the year! P.S. who's the cutie in the photo??

[PostMuse]

The domestic rate isn't a concern for me .... with the 1¢ increase in extra ounce, I'll finally get through the roll of 3,000 1¢ stamps I bought many years ago. The international increase is going to hurt a bit, though, since more than half my mail is international and the last increase was a big jump. It will be about $2 a week more for international mailings, which doesn't sound like a lot, but it adds up.

What really bugs me is that I have gathered a ton of 18¢ vintage stamps to combine with two Forever for the current international rate. The new rate means it will take two Forever and 17¢ more .... there isn't a 17¢ vintage stamp. I'll have to squeeze 4 stamps on postcards. I'm gonna need bigger postcards.

[Scribbling Sarah]

Makes me wish I hadn't stocked up quite so much on postcard and 2 or 3 oz stamps! :) I keep thinking it will be a while before it goes up, so I can stock up, then I'm wrong. But otherwise, not too big a deal.

[J.Bishop]

Not a big deal, in fact... they should just make it an even $0.50 for a letter... why not!

[Alan B]

From this side of the Atlantic that looks cheap. Our minimum domestic letter rate is 50p (=80 cents) and nowhere in the UK is more than 800 miles from anywhere else.

[Donovan Beeson]

That's Sebastian. He's part of the Feline Postal Brigade.

[Steph]

It's not a big deal for me personally, but its effect on some of my favorite periodicals, which are already struggling, worries me a lot.

[Ciara Barsotti]

If it allows them to stay in business I'll gladly pay it. I try not to grumble about postage rates, because it is pretty amazing that you can send a LOT of different kinds of things around the globe for so cheap.

[Derrick Dodson]

How much does everything else go up yearly? Not a big deal - This is why they make forever stamps. really liking the global forevers now :)

[Donovan]

They don't have to go up every year, but there is an inflationary guideline that the U.S.P.S. follows. If you go to the link in the post for the press release, they discuss it.

[CMN]

The funny thing is that every time I hear about a postal rate increase, I have a sudden panic and want to rush out and buy As Many Stamps As Possible in order to hoard them. Then I stop and think "and how does that differ from my normal behavior in any way?", because, uh, it doesn't. As my long P.O. receipt from Saturday morning would give proof...

[Deborah]

Are postcards to international destinations going to $1.15 as well? I agree with PostMuse...I'll need bigger postcards. I really should have room to actually write something on them. :)

[Donovan]

I believe that postcards will be charged the $1.15 rate.

[Marti Schrock]

I don't mind the increase. I like to add smaller numbers to make the current rate. Forever stamps go against that, but sometimes I just can't resist the extra-fun issues. Thanks for posting this info.