USPS: Prices Increase, Services Still at Risk

The price to send a letter just went up a penny; stamps are now 46 cents.

This increase was part of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) hike on stamps and priority mail, which became effective on Sunday.  Even with the price hike, experts claim the USPS could run out of money within six months to a year if Washington doesn't act, according to NBC.   Mail delivery could even stop for a period of time, Michael Crew, director of the Center for Research in Regulated Industries, told NBC.

If you want to plan ahead and avoid future (and probably inevitable) hikes, the USPS offers Forever Stamps, that are good for — well — as long as the Mail Service is delivering mail.   They can be used on a letter of 1 oz. or less and are the same price of a regular stamp.  

Here are the new USPS prices for stamps:

• Letters (1 oz.) — 1-cent increase to 46 cents
• Letters additional ounces — unchanged at 20 cents
• Postcards — 1-cent increase to 33 cents

The USPS will also introduce a new First-Class Mail Global Forever Stamp. The stamp allows people to mail letters anywhere in the world for $1.10.

Several new shipping services products will also be available in January. Free tracking will be offered to all packages, including retail Priority Mail and Parcel Post.

The Postal Service also increased Priority Mail rates:

• Small box — $5.80
• Medium box — $12.35
• Large box — $16.85
• Large APO/FPO box — $14.85
• Regular envelope — $5.60
• Legal envelope — $5.75
• Padded envelope — $5.95

What do you think about the increases? Tell us in the comment section below!