It costs Americans two cents more to mail a letter. The letters shown above each have a 37 cent postage stamp and two one-cent postage stamps. Without the extra stamps, the letters will not be delivered. (AP Photo/Democrat and Chronicle, Max Schulte)

Postage Increases Went Into Effect January 8

It now costs more to mail a letter.

The price of a postage stamp increased two cents on January 8. It now costs 39 cents to mail most letters. It was 37 cents.

The U.S. Postal Service increased other mailing costs and fees, too.

For example, it now costs 24 cents to mail a postcard. Formerly, it cost 23 cents. Priority mail and express mail also went up. International rates also increased.

The increases are the first since 2002

“I come here every day and I didn’t know an increase was coming until I tried to mail a letter with an old stamp,” one Atlanta woman told the newspaper there. “A lot of people are going to be surprised — just like me.”

Postal officials said they had no choice.

They said they had to find a way to raise $3.1 million. Congress said the money must go into an escrow account. That is a place where money is held for future use.

Many affected

The increases affect many people. Many need to buy 2-cent stamps to go along with their old 37-cent stamps.

Demand has forced many post offices to run low on 2-cent stamps. A post office in La Crosse ran out of its supply of 20,000 in just a few hours.

The increase also impacts companies. Businesses often spend a lot on postage. Even a small increase has a big effect. The Key Newspaper feels the impact.  The Key mails about half of the 15,000 issues it sends out each month. 

“The increase in postage rates means that we will have to cut costs in other areas of our program,” said Ginny Balistreri, editor of The Key.  “We hope it won’t be services to our readers.”

Other postage increases may be coming.

The postal service faces a difficult future, the Washington Post reported.

Concerns include rising fuel costs. Also, fewer people are using the mail system these days. Many have turned to e-mail and paying bills on-line.  That increases costs, too.

“Our costs are something we’re going to seriously have to begin to look at,” Gerry McKiernan, a Postal Service representative, told the Washington Post.

Sources: U.S. Postal Service, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Washington Post, La Crosse Tribune