In January, the United States Postal Service increased their rates on postage. These increased rates were needed in order to boost revenue and stabilize their finances in an age where more people are relying on the internet to communicate and pay their bills.
The biggest increases are for Priority Mail flat rate postage for both envelopes and boxes.
Postage Rate Increases
Postage rates for most for letters and postcards increased $0.01. The new rates are as follows:
• Letters (up to 1 ounce): $0.50
• Letters, additional ounces: $0.21 (unchanged)
• Postcards:$0.35
• Letters to all international destinations (1 ounce): $1.15 (unchanged)
Priority Mail Flat Rate Shipping Price
Postage rates for most Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes increased $0.60. New rates for Priority Mail Flat Rate Shipping are as follows:
• Regular envelope: $6.55
• Legal envelope: $6.85
• Padded envelope: $7.10
• Small box: $7.05
• Medium box: $12.85 (increased 45 cents) • Large box: $17.65
• APO/FPO large box: $16.15
Take the Guesswork out of Shipping Costs
The First-Class Package rate will increase an average of 3.9%. Similarly, the media mail rate (for books, CDs
Tips to Save Money
Save time and money by printing your postage labels from your computer.Go to USPS.com for more information and to order your shipping supplies.
Save money with Forever® stamps and Global Forever Stamps® for your First-Class Mail letters. These stamps are always valued at the current letter rate, even if you bought them before the postage increases.
