Montrose - Daily Press

MONTROSE — The cost of first-class postage stamps will increase by a penny, from 41 to 42 cents, beginning Monday.

"As long as inflation goes up, I anticipate it (cost of services) will go up also," said Montrose Postmaster Nick Morgan. "We try to keep the rates as affordable as possible and they (still) are the cheapest in the world."

He said the biggest question customers have had about the increase is whether the Forever Stamp will be affected.

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Forever Stamps purchased before Monday will be worth the new rate, Morgan said. However, Forever Stamps purchased on and after Monday will cost 42 cents.

“The Postal Service developed the Forever Stamp for consumers to ease the transition during price changes,” said Postmaster General John Potter in a news release. “We encourage Americans to buy Forever Stamps now for 41 cents, because like the name suggests, they are good forever.”

The Postal Service has sold 5 billion Forever Stamps since the launch last April and plans to have an additional 5 billion in stock to meet the expected demand before the May price change.

Prices for other mailing services, such as standard mail, periodicals, package services (including single-piece parcel post), and special services will also change (see chart), the United States Postal Service announced.

In addition to the rate increase, Morgan said the Montrose post office is constantly making changes to keep costs down. It has acquired new mail trucks, which run on Flex Fuel or an ethanol blend. Moreover, he said, the office is always looking to do things in a more productive manner.

Customer service is at an all-time high based on daily surveys collected by the post office, Morgan said. "That's record-breaking for (at least) the past 15 years ... we're trending in the right direction. The changes we are making on a nationwide level are impacting the overall operation of our (local) office. I anticipate service will continue to rise."

For the first time ever, USPS will also be offering price incentives for Express Mail and Priority Mail, also beginning Monday. Prices for Express Mail, the Postal Service’s premier overnight service, will be lower at the weights and in the delivery zones used by most customers.

Also, the Postal Service will offer price incentives for both Express Mail and Priority Mail, its two- to three-day shipping service, USPS announced.

Online users and commercial Priority Mail customers will see lower prices, while high-volume Express Mail shippers will get quarterly rebates and price reductions. These savings are now possible due to a recent change in federal law.

The USPS is required by 2006 legislation to keep future rates within the official rates of inflation.

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USPS Price Changes

Selected Prices & Services

                     (Effective May 12)                 Current      New

First-Class Mail Letter (1 oz.)    41¢    42¢

First-Class Mail Letter (2 oz.)    58¢    59¢

Postcard    26¢    27¢

Large Envelope (2 oz.)    97¢    $1.00

Money Orders (up to $500)    $1.05    $1.05

Certified Mail    $2.65    $2.70

First-Class Mail International Letter

(1 oz. to Canada and Mexico)    69¢    72¢

First-Class Mail International Letter

(1 oz. to other countries)    90¢    94¢

Source: United States Postal Service

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