Postal rate increase and other service changes begin Jan. 22 | News

Yep, it's that time again -- postal rates are going up. Starting Sunday, Jan. 22, the price of a First-Class Mail stamp will increase from 44 cents to 45 cents. The silver lining is that it's the first time in two and a half years that the price has gone up.

There will be a few more changes to other common mail services including:

• Postcards will increase from 29 cents to 32 cents
• Letters sent to Mexico or Canada will increase 5 cents to 85 cents
• Letters to other international destinations will increase 7 cents to $1.05

To read about all pricing changes, visit http://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2011/pr11_factsht_pricechng_1018.pdf

USPS also announced a new overnight shipping rate for their flat rate box. The Express Mail Flat Rate Box can be shipped overnight to any domestic destination for $39.95. The package can weigh up to 70 pounds. The new price for the Express Mail Flat Rate Envelope is $18.95.

Additional new domestic pricing for Priority Mail Flat Rate products are:

• Small box — $5.35
• Medium box — $11.35
• Large box — $15.45
• Large APO/FPO/DPO box — $13.45
• Regular envelope — $5.15
• Legal-size and Padded envelope — $5.30

Changes are also hitting the Express Mail refund police. For this type of mail sent on or after Jan. 22, customers who would like a postage refund for a service failure must submit a refund application within 30 days of the original mailing date. Before, customers could apply up to 90 days after mailing.

Express Mail postage refunds with a money-back guarantee will not be available any longer in certain destinations. They are Guam, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia. Instead, refunds will only be available for losses.