United States Postal Service's Postage Rates Increase

The cost of sending most letters and packages jumped slightly over the weekend when the U.S. Postal Service increased its rates to help cover the costs of delivering the mail.

Forever Stamps, the ones that remain good despite future postal rate increases, increased to 46 cents Sunday.

Here's a rundown of price increases:

• Letters (1 oz.) — 1-cent increase to 46 cents
• Letters additional ounces — unchanged at 20 cents
• Letters to all international destinations (1 oz.) — $1.10
• Postcards — 1-cent increase to 33 cents

The USPS will also introduce a new First-Class Mail Global Forever Stamp. The stamp allows people to mail letters anywhere in the world for $1.10.

In addition, several new shipping services products will be available in January. Free tracking will be offered to all packages, including retail Priority Mail and Parcel Post.

Priority Mail rates also will see an increase. The new rates are as follows:

• Small box — $5.80
• Medium box — $12.35
• Large box — $16.85
• Large APO/FPO box — $14.85
• Regular envelope — $5.60
• Legal envelope — $5.75
• Padded envelope — $5.95