US Postal Service rate increases

The U.S. Postal Service raised the price of mailing a first-class letter effective Sunday.

A “forever” stamp now costs 60 cents.

In addition to the two-cent price increase on first-class stamps, other postal services will also cost more.

The list includes:

The additional ounce rate for single-piece First-Class letters will increase by $0.04, from $0.20 to $0.24.

The metered mail rate for First-Class one-ounce letters will increase by $0.04 from $0.53 to $0.57.

Postcard stamps will increase by $0.04 from $0.40 to $0.44.

International one-ounce letter rates will increase by $0.10, from $1.30 to $1.40.

Media mail rates will increase by 9 percent. Rates now begin at $3.49 (previously $3.19).

The prices of other services, like Registered Mail, Signature Confirmation, Money Orders, Return Receipt, and Certified Mail, will also be impacted.

The U.S. Postal Service said the hikes amount to about a 6.5 percent increase across the board and that the added expense is still less than the rate of inflation, which is nearly 8 percent.