United States Postal Service

Forever stamp price increase takes effect in January 2019

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The deadline is nearing for the United States Postal Service price increase Forever stamps for first-class mail - a 10 percent rate hike - but there's a few days to stock up on stamps and save some cash.

The 5 cent increase from 50 cents to 55 cents for Forever stamps that takes effect Jan. 27 is the biggest price jump since 1991. The cash-strapped U.S. Postal Service is also raising rates on its document and package shipping services including "Priority" and "Priority Express."

The Postal Service lost about $3.9 billion in the fiscal year 2018. That's about $1.2 billion more than the previous year and the Postal Service has lost money for 12 consecutive years. The Postal Service generates revenue from the sale of products and services and is not taxpayer funded.

Here's a rundown on the new pricing:

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Forever stamps and post cards

Old price: 50 cents

New price: 55 cents

Percentage increase: 10 percent

Each additional ounce will cost 15 cents, a decrease from 21 cents. So the cost to mail a 2-ounce stamped letter - will drop from 71 cents to 70 cents.

The cost to mail a postcard remains 35 cents.

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Priority small box

Old price: $7.20

New price: $7.90

Percent increase: 9.7 percent

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Priority medium box

Old price: $13.65

New price: $14.35

Percent increase: 5.1 percent

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Priority large box

Old price: $18.90

New price: $19.95

Percent increase: 5.6 percent

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Priority flat rate envelope

(12.5 inch x 9.5 inch or smaller)

Old price: $6.70

New price: $7.35

Percent increase: 9.7 percent

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Priority legal flat envelope

Old price: $7

New price: $7.65

Percent change: 9.3 percent

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Priority padded flat rate envelope

Old price: $7.25

New price: $8

Percent increase: 10.3 percent

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Priority Express

Flate rate envelope:

Old price: $24.70

New price: $25.50

Percent change: 3.2 percent

Legal flat rate envelope

Old price: $24.90

New price: $25.70

Percent increase: 3.2 percent

Padded flat rate

Old price: $25.40

New price: $26.20

Percent increase: 3.2 percent

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Why is the United States Post Office, which is losing many billions of dollars a year, while charging Amazon and others so little to deliver their packages, making Amazon richer and the Post Office dumber and poorer? Should be charging MUCH MORE! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 29, 2017

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President Donald Trump has been critical of the finances of the Postal Service, particularly in its deal to deliver packages for Amazon. Last year, Trump referred to the USPS as a "delivery boy" for Amazon, falsely asserting the online commerce giant has cost American taxpayers billions of dollars.

Weeks earlier, he made a unsubstantiated claim that the postal service loses $1.50 each time it delivers an Amazon package.

Amazon's founder and and chief executive is Jeff Bezos, who owns the Washington Post, one of the media outlets the president has repeatedly claimed is "fake news" and "the true enemy of the people."

The Postal Service filed notice for the rate increases with the Postal Regulatory Commission in October. The PRC approved the hikes later in the year.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.