Download this report as an MP3 sound file.

Postal prices are going up.

The Stamp Collecting Report, I'm Lloyd de Vries.

To no one's surprise, an oversight agency has given its blessing to the U-S Postal Service's
request for a rate increase, effective Sunday, January 21st. It will cost one cent more to
mail a letter, an even 50 cents, and another penny to mail a postcard. Other rates are going
up slightly, too, and a few are even staying the same. More importantly, the prices for
shipping services will increase.

That's more important because that's where the growth is for the Postal Service these days.
All that merchandise ordered online has to be delivered by someone, and the Postal Service is
in the thick of the hunt.

After approving the request, the oversight agency then gave the Postal Service something more:
It proposed allowing the mail agency to raise its rates in the future by MORE than the rate of
inflation, the present limit.

It says the Postal Service needs the extra money to stay afloat. Big mailers are opposed —
especially retailers that offer free shipping — Amazon, eBay, Netflix and so on. They'll have
to absorb higher shipping rates… even if they use another service… because competition with
the U-S Postal Service affects everyone's rates.

Those competitors are concerned, too, as are people who mail you catalogues and requests for
donations.

The plan now gets several months of public comments… and then there will probably be some
lawsuits.

Meanwhile, expect SOME new stamps for the new rates… but not as many as in the past. That
department is watching ITS pennies.

I’m Lloyd de Vries of The Virtual Stamp Club. For more on stamps and stamp collecting,
visit virtual-stamp-club-dot-com.

----------------------------------------------------------
Go to Previous Report
Go to Next Report 

Go to Report Index