(TNS) — If you use a lot of postage stamps you should stock up now to avoid a price increase later this month.
A Forever stamp is good — forever. The price right now is 66 cents. That will increase to 68 cents on Jan. 21, 2024, for a 1-ounce letter. The price increase was announced in October.
The U.S. Postal Service said it will not change the additional-ounce price. It will stay at 24 cents.
Also increased will be fees for certified mail, post office box rental fees, money order fees and the cost to purchase insurance when mailing an item.
Other fee increases are:
Letters, metered, 1 ounce — increase from 63 cents to 64 cents
Domestic postcards — increase from 51 cents to 53 cents
International postcards — increase from $1.50 to $1.55
International letter, 1 ounce — increase from $1.50 to $1.55
“As inflationary pressures on operating expenses continue and the effects of a previously defective pricing model are still being felt, these price adjustments are needed to provide the Postal Service with much needed revenue to achieve the financial stability sought by its Delivering for America 10-year plan. The prices of the Postal Service remain among the most affordable in the world,” the postal service said in a news release in October 2023.
The postal service last increased the price of a Forever stamp July 9, 2023, from 63 cents to 66 cents. In January 2023 the price increased from 60 cents to 63 cents.
New stamps for 2024 will include the Love 2024 stamp being released on Jan. 12, the Lunar New Year (Year of the Dragon) to be released Jan. 25 and the Constance Baker Motley, civil rights pioneer, stamp will be issued Jan. 31.
Also coming in 2024 are U.S. Flags, Flowers, Save Manatees, Underground Railroad, Wedding Blooms, Celebration Blooms, Garden Delights, Saul Bellow, Pinback Buttons, Protect Sea Turtles, Shaker Designs, Horses, Bluegrass and Autumn Colors.
