As seen in today’s Washington Post:
The Postal Service wants to raise the price of a first-class stamp by 3 cents next year to 42 cents, citing the rising cost of fuel and of health-care benefits for employees and retirees.[...]
The increase, if approved by the Postal Rate Commission, would be the fifth since 1995, when a stamp cost 32 cents and the 10th since 1981, when the same stamp cost 18 cents. The last increase was in January, when the price of a first-class stamp rose 2 cents.The Postal Service said it would begin selling a “forever stamp” next year that would be good for first-class mail “no matter how prices might change beyond 2007.” While some consumers might use it as a hedge against future price increases, it is intended to eliminate the inconvenience for consumers of having to buy new stamps every time the rates increase, said Stephen Kearney, vice president for pricing and classification.
Considering how expensive petrol has become, I guess it makes sense…although I wish someone would get it through the USPS’s thick head that it would be much appreciated if first-class stamps could be given a value that is some multiple of a nickel. The odd cents are annoying when all you need to do is buy one stamp!
The “forever” stamp is an intriguing idea, although my preference would be to move to a system where a first class stamp is forever good for first class postage….but the price to buy such a stamp changes as costs warrant.