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NEWS
U.S. Postal Rates Rise
by Yated Ne'eman Staff
As of Sunday January 7, the rate for a regular letter within
the United States (first-class mail) rose to 34 cents. This
increase was in the works for a year. Other rates that went
up include Express Mail ($12.25), Priority Mail ($3.50),
parcel post, periodicals, advertising, international mail
($0.80) and aerogrammes ($0.70).
International mail from Israel to the U.S. is the equivalent
of $0.56.
In anticipation of the increase, the United States Postal
Service, an independent agency, shipped 4 billion 1-cent
stamps to its 38,000 offices across the United States to
help people use their leftover stocks of the old 33-cent
stamps.
About 7.6 billion stamps worth 34 cents each have been on
sale since December 15. Because they were printed in
advance, these stamps do not show a price on them but are
marked "USA FIRST-CLASS." In later printings the value of 34-
cents will replace the words "FIRST-CLASS."
U.S. postal officials say that mail bearing the old rate
that was "in the system" by last Sunday will be sent on. For
example, a letter put in a mail box Saturday night but not
postmarked until Monday should be delivered. But letters
sent later with inadequate postage will be returned to the
sender.
The U.S. Postal Service is a remarkable organization that
processes and delivers over 40% of the total world mail
volume, visiting every household and business in the United
States daily. Last year, the U.S. Postal Service delivered
over 200 billion pieces of mail! It has not received any
U.S. tax money to cover its operating expenses since
1982.
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