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First-class stamps to cost 49 cents as of Jan. 26
WHTM.COM ^ | 24 DECEMBER 2013 | AP

Posted on 12/24/2013 6:32:09 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist

WASHINGTON (AP) - Mailing a letter is about to get a little more expensive.

Regulators on Tuesday approved a temporary price hike of 3 cents for a first-class stamp, bringing the charge to 49 cents a letter in an effort to help the Postal Service recover from severe mail decreases brought on by the 2008 economic downturn.

Many consumers won't feel the price increase immediately. Forever stamps, good for first-class postage whatever the future rate, can be purchased at the lower price until the new rate is effective Jan. 26.

The higher rate will last no more than two years, allowing the Postal Service to recoup $2.8 billion in losses. By a 2-1 vote, the independent Postal Regulatory Commission rejected a request to make the price hike permanent, though inflation over the next 24 months may make it so.

The surcharge "will last just long enough to recover the loss," Commission Chairman Ruth Y. Goldway said.

(Excerpt) Read more at abc27.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government
KEYWORDS:
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1 posted on 12/24/2013 6:32:09 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
I remember when it Cost 5 cents now it will be almost 4 bits.
2 posted on 12/24/2013 6:35:10 PM PST by SandRat (Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
Regulators on Tuesday approved a temporary price hike of 3 cents

When has a government* price hike or tax hike ever truly been temporary?

or quasi-governmental agency, for you sticklers...

3 posted on 12/24/2013 6:35:31 PM PST by null and void (I'm betting on an Obama Trifecta: A Nobel Peace Prize, an Impeachment, AND a War Crimes Trial...)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

What’s a “letter”?


4 posted on 12/24/2013 6:40:10 PM PST by Forgotten Amendments (I remember when a President having an "enemies list" was a scandal. Now, they have a kill list.)
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To: SandRat
The higher rate will last no more than two years

If anyone believes that then I have some oceanfront land in Arizona I would like to sell you.

5 posted on 12/24/2013 6:41:37 PM PST by Bubba_Leroy (The Obamanation Continues)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

Its still cheaper than most countries.

In fact we would be better off if the USPS could raise their rates according to need rather than having to go through congress. It would probably be closer to a buck but the postal service would be in better shape.


6 posted on 12/24/2013 6:44:47 PM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
"The higher rate will last no more than two years..."

Bwah-hahahahahaha. The higher rate will last no more than two years before being replaced by an even HIGHER rate. And that will probably happen far sooner than 2 years.

I have so 'had it' with the USPS, who have mishandled two exceptionally important pieces of my mail in the past year -- one of which involved a court case, and the other a stock certificate worth approximately $30k.

And the 'Two Day Priority Mail' package I paid $9 to send at 9:30 on December 21st has made it all the way to Allen Park, Mi by today at 9:48 P.M. (It was supposed to be delivered in New Orleans today...)

Did I mention that I live about 6 miles from Allen Park, MI?

Gee, I wonder why the USPS is losing so much money?

7 posted on 12/24/2013 6:52:00 PM PST by DJ Frisat ((optional, printed after my name on post))
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

this temporary price rate hike, will never be repealed.

they know it, it’s a total BS story for the public.


8 posted on 12/24/2013 6:52:30 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: cripplecreek

I say abolish the USPS and let UPS or Fed Ex cannibalize its carcass.


9 posted on 12/24/2013 6:52:36 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Governor Sarah Heath Palin for President of the United States in 2016)
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To: cripplecreek

I only send one letter a month. It contains the only check I have to write each month. That is to my gardener.

I used to send 15 to 20 checks and letters. So I am saving!


10 posted on 12/24/2013 6:53:04 PM PST by BunnySlippers (I LOVE BULL MARKETS . . .)
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To: SandRat

“I remember when it Cost 5 cents”
___________________________________________________
I remember 3 cents!. What I don’t understand, why 49?
If they have to raise it, why not 50 cents, an even amount.


11 posted on 12/24/2013 6:53:28 PM PST by AlexW
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

UPS and FedEx don’t want it. Where I live they make all their deliveries to the post office rather than home deliveries.


12 posted on 12/24/2013 6:54:36 PM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

The higher rate will last no more than two years............. LIARS!!!!! OH, they mean after the 2 years they’ll raise it to 55 cents? How the USPS rates go, so will go Obama care.


13 posted on 12/24/2013 6:58:37 PM PST by Bringbackthedraft (Remember Ty Woods? Glenn Doherty ? Forgot already?)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
Regulators on Tuesday approved a temporary price hike of 3 cents for a first-class stamp, bringing the charge to 49 cents a letter in an effort to help the Postal Service recover from severe mail decreases brought on by the 2008 economic downturn.

The decrease in mail volume is caused not just by the economic downturn, but by new communication technologies. My bank pays my bills now, so I don't need to waste 10 minutes and 40+ cents to mail a check. Advertisers are seeing worse return from their mail campaigns, as people have less money to spend on optional purchases. USPS is stuck in manual delivery mode that requires huge expenses of money and labor. Most of that is unnecessary today. Only parcels need to be delivered, and that is handled by courier services that have no burden of delivering daily into your mailbox. Everything else can be delivered electronically, securely, and wherever you are. Cost of USPS services will continue its climb, and with fewer advertisers it becomes a positive feedback loop.

14 posted on 12/24/2013 6:59:32 PM PST by Greysard
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

Forever stamps not forever..sigh


15 posted on 12/24/2013 7:10:33 PM PST by mojo114 (Pray for our military)
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To: Greysard

I would let UPS and FedEx pick up all the distribution from the point of origin post offices to the destination post offices and let the locals figure out what they want to do for rural and home deliveries from there. The primary costs of the USPS is in distribution and related labor. I would also cut PO hours to 3 days per week.

My local post office has 1 full time employee and 1 rural route driver shared between 3 post offices covering a sizable chunk of the county.


16 posted on 12/24/2013 7:25:11 PM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: Greysard
Great post. Here's my thoughts on what USPS should have done years ago:

Become a social media hub like Facebook. Create a postoffice.com site and email address for people and let users get all the e-mail and ads they want. They can even get the type of junk mail they want or magazine brochures.

They can have a free version, a trial version, or an annual paid subscription with no ads and military-grade email protection. Even through in online banking through the USPS and set up a service like MoneyGram. At the same-time, just offer buyouts to retirees that have pensions and gradually phase out all mail delivery.

17 posted on 12/24/2013 7:25:52 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Governor Sarah Heath Palin for President of the United States in 2016)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

They gotta find some way to pay those high school graduates their $100,000 salaries. After all it takes great skills to be able to read a number and match it with a PO Box and/or house number or ask the customer if they want the sheet or book of stamps.


18 posted on 12/24/2013 7:33:28 PM PST by ImNotLying (The Right To Bear Arms: Making good people helpless won't make bad people harmless!)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

It’s only for two years, and then it drops back. Whew! That’s ok then.


19 posted on 12/24/2013 8:16:30 PM PST by SgtHooper (If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.)
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To: cripplecreek

That’s because it’s unconstitutional for any entity other than the govey to operate the mail system. And they use the USPS because it is subsidized by us poor saps.


20 posted on 12/24/2013 8:19:39 PM PST by SgtHooper (If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.)
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