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July 6, 2010
The U.S. Postal Service Governors recommended increasing the price of a First-Class stamp 2 cents to 46 cents and authorized the production of a pane of four evergreen tree branches as the newest image for Forever Stamps. The price of a postcard would increase 2 cents to 30 cents.
The Postal Regulatory Commission must approve the recommended price changes. The increases would not go into effect until January 2, 2011. It would be the first stamp price increase in almost two years.
Holiday Evergreen Forever Stamps will be available to the public in October at the current rate of 44 cents. Once purchased, the stamps are valid literally forever – despite any future price changes. No additional postage will ever be needed.
http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2010/pr10_064.htm
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I'll be stocking up on forever stamps this time. I don't use the mail much and I hate having to run to the post office to buy sheets of 2c stamps so I can use up my old ones.
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The Post Office would get more business if they cut their prices, not increased them. Being able to pay online must be to them like the train was to the Pony Express. If stamps were cheaper and especially parcels, I would send them a LOT more often than I do now. I've seen nice gifts before I would like to send to family and the thought of the postage cost stopped me.
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I agree, cheapncheerful. They have priced themselves too high to stay within everybody's reach for everyday usage. I only send parcels at Christmas and birthdays for the youngsters in the family. Every year I send less because they get big enough to want gift cards so they can choose their own. It's the cheapest option of all.
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And it won't be long until we have to think about Christmas and sending cards either! I'm going to get a bunch of forever stamps with that in mind. It's the only time I use the mail much at all.
I remember reading the USPS saying last year there would be no price increases in 2010. So they instead agree to do it in 2010 and increase them two days into 2011. That's still a bummer.