All prices in USD
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) implemented increased postal rates affecting most U.S. mailing classes earlier this week.
On Jan. 21, rates increased an average of four per cent across all affected shipping services, including domestic mailing and shipping. The price of a stamp has risen from 49 cents to 50 cents while the cost for each additional ounce will remain at 21 cents.
In addition to the first-class domestic one-ounce letter rate, the postcard rate has also risen one cent to 35 cents in total. Other increases include metered first-class mail, which rose from 46 cents to 47 cents, as well as all basic shipping charges, each of which have risen five cents.
Another rate that remained unchanged was the international one-ounce letter rate, which is still $1.15.
MAILING RATE CHANGES
| MAILING | FORMER RATE | NEW RATE |
| Letters (one ounce) | 49 cents | 50 cents |
| Letters (additional ounces) | 21 cents | 21 cents |
| Letters (metered) | 46 cents | 47 cents |
| Outbound international letters (one ounce) | $1.15 | $1.15 |
| Domestic postcards | 34 cents | 35 cents |
FOREVER STAMPS
Any U.S. Forever stamps purchased before Jan. 21 at the former rate will remain valid for all the new rates; however, Forever stamps originally released at the former rate will now be sold at the new rate.
According to the USPS, the new rates will raise mailing services product prices about 1.9 per cent while most shipping services products will average a 3.9 per cent price increase.
The new shipping services product prices will increase priority mail 3.9 percent and priority mail retail an average of 0.8 per cent.