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Stamps Go Up 2 Cents in May

By the Associated Press

Posted Feb 10, 2009 5:05 PM CST

(AP) – The price of a first-class stamp will rise 2 cents to 44 cents on May 11, the Postal Service said today. That leaves plenty of time to stock up on Forever Stamps, which will continue to sell at the current 42-cent rate until the increase occurs. They will remain valid in the future regardless of rate hikes.

"The Postal Service is not immune to rising costs which are affecting homes and businesses across America today," said Postmaster General John Potter. While the new 44-cent rate covers the first ounce of first-class mail, the price for each additional ounce will remain unchanged at 17 cents. The Postal Service lost $2.8 billion last year and is headed toward much larger losses this year. The agency may cut delivery one day a week.

A placard display of the Forever Stamp is displayed near the Liberty Bell in 2007. (AP Photo/Bradley C Bower)

A Forever Stamp. Buy it now for 42 cents, and it will be good for future price increases. (AP Photo/USPS)

A Forever Stamp, left, appears next to the first-class flag stamp. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

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USPS Has Dismal Holiday, Loses $3.3B in Quarter

Decline in regular mail more than offsets gift shipping bump

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Half of USPS mail processing centers to shut down this spring

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Neither rain nor sleet nor ... bad handwriting

Stamps Going Up a Penny

It will cost 45 cents to mail a first-class letter in January

Capitol Hill Buried in Avalanche of Angry Mail

One office seeing 1,422% more mail than in 2002

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Stamps Go Up 2 Cents in May

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

mail • price increases • USPS • stamps • post office

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

USPS Has Dismal Holiday, Loses $3.3B in Quarter

Decline in regular mail more than offsets gift shipping bump

Post Office to Slow Mail, Kill Next-Day Letter Delivery

Half of USPS mail processing centers to shut down this spring

How the USPS Deals With Your Awful Penmanship

Neither rain nor sleet nor ... bad handwriting

Stamps Going Up a Penny

It will cost 45 cents to mail a first-class letter in January

Capitol Hill Buried in Avalanche of Angry Mail

One office seeing 1,422% more mail than in 2002

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

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More News

What is Newser?