Mail fees change Jan. 27; first-class stamp to be 55¢

The U.S. Postal Service will leave 50cent forever stamps behind on Jan. 27, increasing their price by 5 cents.

While 2019 post office price changes vary by mailing service, the fees rolling out the last Sunday of the month will increase prices by 2.5 percent.

The most notable changes:

❚ A first-class letter will go up to 55 cents: The nickel increase is the largest percentage rise since 1991, when postage increased from 25 to 29 cents.

❚ The cost of mailing letters over 1 ounce will decrease: Each additional ounce will drop from 21 cents to 15 cents. Mailing a 2-ounce letter, a wedding invitation’s typical weight, will cost 70 cents instead of 71 cents.

❚ Postcard card rates will remain the same: Mailing a postcard will run 35 cents.

❚ Priority Mail prices will jump by 5.9 percent on average: A small box that previously cost $7.20 will rise to $7.90, while a medium box will jump from $13.65 to $14.35.

❚ Priority Mail Express fees will increase 3.9 percent: Those looking to ship an envelope ASAP can expect to pay $25.50 instead of $24.70.

The Postal Service lost $3.9 billion in 2018, attributing the losses to drops in volume and the costs of pensions and health care. It marked the 12th year in a row the agency reported a loss despite growth in package shipping.