Community Corner

USPS to Increase Price of Stamps, Some Services

"Forever stamp" will cost one extra cent after Sunday's 2012 price adjustment takes effect.

Heads up, Alameda. The United States Postal Service price adjustments announced back in October will kick in Sunday, Jan. 22.

Key changes include:

  • Letters (1 oz.): 1-cent increase to 45 cents
  • Postcards: 3-cent increase to 32 cents
  • Letters to Canada or Mexico (1 oz.): 5-cent increase to 85 cents.
  • Letters to other international destinations: 7-cent increase to $1.05

Prices will also change for other mailing services, including standard mail, periodicals, package services and extra services, according to the USPS.

Find out what's happening in Alamedawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Express and Priority Mail prices won't be affected, according to a news release.

Postmaster General Patrick Donahue said in a statement on the USPS web site that the increase is “small” and is necessary “to help address [the USPS'] current financial crisis.”

Find out what's happening in Alamedawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The USPS reportedly lost $8 billion in 2010 and is only legally allowed to increase prices up to the Consumer Price Index rate of inflation — which was 2.1 percent for this increase, according to the USPS.

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