Stamp Prices to Increase in 2012 Says USPS
Stamp prices will rise by one cent – to 45 cents – starting January 22, 2012, the US Postal Service (USPS) announced Tuesday.
The proposed first-class stamp – aka the forever stamp – price hike is part of a series of changes that would additionally boost the price of a postcard from 29 cents to 32 cents and also raise the cost of sending international letters, standard mail, packages and periodicals.
“The overall average price increase is small and is needed to help address our current financial crisis,” Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe explained in a statement to the press. “We continue to take actions within our control to increase revenue in other ways and to aggressively cut costs. To return to sound financial footing we urgently need enactment of comprehensive, long-term legislation to provide the Postal Service with a more flexible business model.”
For the 2010 fiscal year, the USPS posted losses of $8.5 billion compared to a $3.8 billion loss in the previous year. In the four year period leading to 2010, mail volume declined 20 percent, leading to a $20 billion net loss.
In case you are wondering, laws prevent the postal service price increases from exceeding the rate of inflation, which, according to the most recent Consumer Price Index reading, is 2.1 percent. That being said, the current hikes do not violate the law.
What are your thoughts on increasing stamp prices and postal services? Are you planning on stocking up on forever stamps before the hikes go into effect?
Tags : 2012 stamp prices, First Class stamp, forever stamps, forever stamps 2012, Stamp prices, stamp prices 2012, usps, USPS Rate increases
Posted: October 18, 2011
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Nov 27, 2011
I'm not going to go crazy with it, but I do plan on buying several sheets of stamps before the price hike.
Dec 12, 2011
Guess I am going to have to buy lots of stamps too before it goes up. oh well, life goes on.
Dec 20, 2011
I just got some stamp today at the UPs store and its more expensive than the post office. Paid $51.00 for 100 stamps…. I just now saw my receipt.
Dec 29, 2011
So can we still use the Forever stamps that we already have or will we have to now put two stamps to use the stamps we already have out?
Jan 12, 2012
If satellite internet GOES OUT, bad news! Just in case, let's support the USPS all year. Increase usage by 10% or higher. Also, keeps UPS, FedEx, etc., prices in check. WAKE UP, EVERYONE. DON'T LET THE USPS GO DOWN!
Jan 22, 2012
a forever stamp is always good for a 1 oz domestic letter
Feb 2, 2012
It would be nice if the Post Office alerted people to the change via the order forms distributed to homes regularly. They continue to print the old prices so customers can easily be confused about the date the increase takes effect..