What Are the New Postage Stamp Rates?

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

Forever Stamps, the ones that remain good despite future postal rate increases, are now 46 cents.

Here's a rundown of price increases:

• Letters (1 oz.) — 1-cent increase to 46 cents
• Letters additional ounces — unchanged at 20 cents
• 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

If you happen to have postage stamps that aren't forever the USPS offers a variety of stamps with smaller prices. There's a bobcat penny stamp and a Navajo necklace stamp for 2 cents.

There are three Post Offices in Ames:

• U.S. Post Office,
• U.S. Post Office, Memorial Union ISU
• United States Postal Service, Welch Ave.