49 cent stamps ohno:

link (http://www.click2houston.com/news/money/postal-service-seeks-3cent-stamp-price-hike/-/1735962/22113136/-/mywqda/-/index.html)

Postal Service Seeks To Hike Stamp Prices By 3 Cents
Price of sending postcard would also go up under proposal
Author: By Jennifer Liberto
Posted: Sep 25 2013 10:34 AM CDT Updated: Sep 25 2013 7:03 PM CDT

Washington (CNNMoney) - Mailing a letter would cost three cents more, or 49 cents, starting in January, under a Wednesday proposal by the U.S. Postal Service. The price of sending a postcard would also go up by a cent to 34 cents. The rate hikes are expected to raise $2 billion for the cash-strapped postal service. The Postal Service must first get the approval of its regulatory panel, Postal Regulatory Commission, before it can raise prices over the rate of inflation.

"Of the options currently available to the Postal Service to align costs and revenues, increasing postage prices is a last resort that reflects extreme financial challenges," the Postal Service Board of Governors Chairman Mickey Barnett said in a letter to customers. The agency said it lost $740 million in the three months that ended June 30. During the same period last year, it reported a $5.2 billion loss. So far, the Postal Service has lost $3.9 billion in the current fiscal year.

In 2012, the agency lost $16 billion. Much of the problem stems from a congressional mandate to make annual $5 billion payments for future retiree health care benefits. The requirement has been a major drag on the agency, which has exhausted a $15 billion loan from taxpayers to make up for shortfalls. The decline in the volume of mail that most people send each year is also hurting. The Postal Service handled 37.9 billion pieces of mail between April and June, down from 38.3 billion in the same period last year.

In January, the Postal Service raised the price of a first-class mail stamp by 1 cent to 46 cents. That increase was allowed to go forward without the permission of the Postal Regulatory Commission because it reflected the pace of inflation.

Copyright 2013 by CNN NewSource. All rights reserved.

Why not just make it .50? In the grand scheme of things, .50 is still very cheap to send a letter anywhere in the country.

It is still a deal, but I may buy some Forever stamps. They're always good, regardless of any price hikes.

That's true. The forever stamps are good to have.

Not again!!! :eek:

Why not just make it .50? In the grand scheme of things, .50 is still very cheap to send a letter anywhere in the country.
Have you ever mailed wedding invitations? That .50 would add up quick! :lol:

I wish they'd they'd get rid of Third-Class Mail, and make those who send "Junk Mail" pay the same rate as everyone else. That would raise cash for them REAL quick!

Yes 50 cents would have been better. I have several 50 cents stamps from years ago. Now I can finally use them. Well I am one cent short.

Have you ever mailed wedding invitations? That .50 would add up quick! :lol:

Very true, but hopefully that wouldn't be something you'd have to do too often. LOL!

I wish they'd they'd get rid of Third-Class Mail, and make those who send "Junk Mail" pay the same rate as everyone else. That would raise cash for them REAL quick!
Plus get the law changed on how the Post Office has to fund their pension system, congress can fix the problem but refuses to do so.:rolleyes:

Have you ever mailed wedding invitations? That .50 would add up quick! :lol:


Doesnt have to. I mailed my wedding invitations in August with regular forever stamps.

I only ever buy forever stamps

I send Christmas cards every year but I am thinking of cutting that out (or down):( The stamps cost more than the card. ohno: I don't want to quit sending them mainly because I love receiving them!I rarely use snail mail . I pay most of my bills online. Time will tell..............

Worth it, IMO