Postage Rates Increase This Month

The cost of most sending most letters and packages jumped Jan. 27 when the US Postal Service upped its rates to help cover the costs of delivering the mail.

Forever Stamps, the ones that remain good despite future postal rate increases, will increase to 46 cents.  

Here's a rundown of price increases:

• Letters (1 oz.) — 1-cent increase to 46 cents
• Letters additional ounces — unchanged at 20 cents
• Letters to all international destinations (1 oz.) — $1.10
• Postcards — 1-cent increase to 33 cents

The USPS will also introduce a new First-Class Mail Global Forever Stamp. The stamp allows people to mail letters anywhere in the world for $1.10.

In addition, there will be several new shipping services products will be available in January. Free tracking will be offered to all competitive packages, including retail Priority Mail and Parcel Post.

Online shoppers in the United States will spend $327 billion in 2016, up 45 percent from $226 billion this year and 62 percent from $202 billion in 2011, according to a recent projection released by Forrester Research Inc. With the increase in online shopping comes an increase in vendor shipping, and as you know, recently shoppers have come to expect "free" shipping with their purchases. When they do, it’s businesses that are typically stuck with the bill. These price increases could dramatically affect a business’ bottom line. 

Palo Alto local company, DYMO Endicia, has put together a price chart and tips to help businesses manage the new increases. The chart compares pricing for top carriers—USPS, FedEx, UPS.

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