WASHINGTON — Postal rates will go up in April, but the cost of sending a basic letter will remain the same.
The Postal Service said Thursday that most rates will go up on April 17 under a formula that allows the agency to increase prices within the rate of inflation.
The post office said the 44-cent price of a first-class stamp will remain unchanged, but heavier letters will cost more. The basic rate is for the first ounce, and the price for each extra ounce will rise from 17 cents to 20 cents.
“While changing prices is always a difficult decision, we have made every effort to keep the impact minimal for consumers and customers doing business with us at retail lobbies,” Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said.
Under the law, the post office can raise rates as long as it doesn’t exceed inflation, which would permit an increase of 1.7 percent averaged over all mail.
The Postal Service lost $8.5 billion last year despite deep cuts of more than 100,000 jobs and other reductions in recent years.
The agency has lost considerable business to the Internet in recent years and the post office last summer sought an increase that would have exceeded inflation, citing the recession. That was rejected by the independent Postal Regulatory Commission.
The post office has appealed that turndown, but in the meantime is moving to increase rates within the legal limit.
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