Stamp Price Increase: What You Need to Know for Next Post Office Trip

While the volume of first-class mail has dropped sharply—from an all-time high of 213 billion pieces in 2006 to only 168 billion in 2011, according to a New York Times story—the U.S. Postal Service is struggling, showing a loss of $36 million per day.

The most prominent way for the Postal Service to recover revenue is to raise postage and mailing rates.

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Since 1885, when the price for the first ounce of a first-class letter was $0.02, rates have increased 24 times and will jump to $0.46, effective Sunday.

According to a press release from the USPS, the price of a "Forever" stamp—which allows a customer to send a one-ounce letter anywhere in the United States—will go up one penny to $0.46. Each additional ounce of a first-class letter will stay the same, at $0.20.

Additionally, it is introducing an international version, called the "Global Forever Stamp," which will cost $1.10 and cover the cost of a letter mailed to anywhere in the world.

Postcards, which cost $0.01 to mail starting in 1928, have seen rates rise 23 times, and the 24th increase will take it to $0.33.

The Postal Service website lists new pricing for Priority Mail Flat Rate as follows:

• Small box: $5.80
• Medium box: $12.35
• Large box: $16.85
• Large APO/FPO box: $14.85
• Regular envelope: $5.60
• Legal envelope: $5.75
• Padded envelope: $5.95