USPS implements 2018 postage rate increase
Information provided by the USPS; photo courtesy of Terri Wiebold
The U.S. Postal Service implemented new postage rates on January 21. Listed below are the highlights of the 2018 USPS rate increase for customers buying postage:
First Class Mail Letters
The rate for a first class mail letter (1 oz.) for postage purchased at the post office is increasing by one cent to $0.50 from $0.49. If you print postage online, the metered mail rate will continue to receive a three cent discount off the post office price, with rates increasing to $0.47 in 2018 from $0.46 in 2017. Each additional ounce will cost an extra $0.21 (no change from 2017).
The rate for a first class mail flat/large envelope is increasing by two cents to $1.00 (1 oz.) and postcards are increasing by one cent to $0.35 in 2018.
Priority Mail Express (Commercial Base Pricing)
Overall, prices for priority mail express will increase by 3.9%. A 1 lb. package going to zone 8 (for example) using priority mail express will cost $35.04 in 2018 compared to $33.76 in 2017.
Priority Mail Express Flat Rate (Commercial Base Pricing)
Priority mail express flat rate envelopes will also see a rate increase in 2018. The increases vary depending on the type of envelope, ranging from $0.80 to $0.82 per envelope.
Priority Mail (Commercial Base Pricing)
Priority Mail will see an average increase of 6.2%. A 1 lb. package going to zone 8 using priority mail will cost $7.76 in 2018 compared to $7.25 in 2017.
Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes & Envelopes (Commercial Base Pricing)
Postage rates for priority mail flat rate boxes as well as flat rate envelopes will increase in 2018. The popular priority mail flat rate padded envelope will cost $7.10 in 2018 compared to $6.50 in 2017, a $0.60 increase. And the priority mail medium flat rate box will cost $12.85 in 2018 compared to $12.40 in 2017.
Visit https://store.usps.com/store/home for additional rate changes.
Forever stamps displayed in artistic form like the 12 stamps pictured above have increased in popularity and can be purchased online or at a local USPS office (subject to availability). We picked these up at the Castle Rock Post Office. Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009) created haunting and enigmatic paintings based largely on people and places in his life.
