As the financially troubled U.S. Postal Services tries one measure after another to cut costs, including closing post offices, mail processing plants and even slashing Saturday mail service to remain afloat, higher mail prices are guaranteed for delivery in 2012.
Starting on Jan. 22, the cost of a first-class stamp will rise to 45 cents from 44 cents, while priority mail prices will jump 3.1% and the cost of using express mail will be 3.4% higher.
On the upside, forever stamps won't require any additional postage, despite the new prices. "They will be good after January and a hundred years from now," said David Partenheimer, USPS spokesman.
And since the post office only adjusts its pricing once a year, that one-penny hike should do it until 2013.
College, retirement or mortgage payments? Putting a rebound in income to good use.
