Mailing packages could cost you a little more at the end of January if the U.S. Postal Service has its way.
The agency proposed a postage rate increase to the Postal Regulatory Commission on Thursday. Under the proposed hikes, Priority Mail would increase an average of 6.3 percent, Priority Mail Commercial Base would go up an average of 3.7 percent, Commercial Plus—a service for big-volume shippers—would increase an average of 3.8 percent, First Class Mail stamps would go up 1 cent and mailing a post card would cost 33 cents.
The changes would also introduce a new “global” forever stamp that will allow people to ship letters and packages of less than 1 ounce to anywhere in the world for $1.10.
USPS adds that several new services will be available in January, and that tracking will be free for several shipping options, including Priority Mail and Parcel Post.
The Postal Regulatory Commission must review and approve the proposed postage rate increases for them to take effect on Jan. 27, as USPS would like them to.
According to The Washington Post, USPS has increased postage rates five times since 2006.
