The price of the Forever stamp will also increase by one cent. But previously purchased stamps will still be usable without having to pay more. The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has sold more than five billion Forever stamps since its introduction last April. The USPS is planning to sell five billion more between now and May.

Before, the USPS had to go through an arduous process to file an increase in postage rates, but due to the changes in the law the USPS can increase rates depending upon the rate of inflation. The Postal Regulatory Commission calculated the increase to just over a penny, so the USPS decided to increase the postage rate by a cent. The USPS will adjust the rates annually each May. The law requires the USPS to give a 90 day notice to announce the rate increase.

For every additional ounce of weight, the rate increases by 17 cents, same as before.

The charge for other services, such as advertising mail, periodicals, packages, special services, Priority Mail and Express Mail will also change. For more information on products and services visit: www.usps.com/

The real estate industry and local Realtors rely on the U.S. Postal Service to deliver all of those great mailers you receive over and over again.

BTW – Those long lines at the post office are real estate agents lining up to buy forever stamps!