Communicating with your friends and family members or sending a business letter requires complete knowledge of US postal rates including Current postage rates. The postal rates keep on fluctuating from time to time. With the change in the economic conditions the rates of the postal services have also increased. There had been a lot of confusion regarding the current postages rates among people who use postal services. Here are the new postage rates effective from February 2009:
The postages that are bought from the click and ship service enjoys very few discounts. With the evolution of internet and its wonderful services many people now prefer to use the flat rate offered by many websites online. For those people who are into regular posting of mails and letters must know the current Priority mail flat rates effective from May 12, 2008:
Rates for Manila, Tyvek and similar large, flat envelopes |
Current |
First-Class Mail retail flat (1 ounce) |
88¢ |
First-Class Mail retail flat (up to 2 ounces) |
$1.05 |
First-Class Mail retail flat (up to 3 ounces) |
$1.22 |
First-Class Mail retail flat (up to 4 ounces) |
$1.39 |
First-Class Mail retail flat (up to 5 ounces) |
$1.56 |
First-Class Mail retail flat (up to 6 ounces) |
$1.73 |
First-Class Mail retail flat (up to 7 ounces) |
$1.90 |
First-Class Mail retail flat (up to 8 ounces) |
$2.07 |
First-Class Mail retail flat (up to 9 ounces) |
$2.24 |
First-Class Mail retail flat (up to 10 ounces) |
$2.41 |
First-Class Mail retail flat (up to 11 ounces) |
$2.58 |
First-Class Mail retail flat (up to 12 ounces) |
$2.75 |
First-Class Mail retail flat (up to 13 ounces) |
$2.92 |
The USPS express mail still takes weight of the postage packet into account and has now turned to a zone based system. This is good news for people who send postage to nearby locations as they will enjoy reduced prices but at the same time packages mailed across long distance will be charged high such as Los Angeles and New York. With the current postal rates the packages shipped through express mail will hardly see any changes in its cost. Also the flat rate of express mail envelope is still sold for $166.50 and will not be changed based on weight or distance.
When it comes to international postage, the cost will be determined according to the dimensions of the letter you are sending. So if you are sending a small envelope you will be charged less than those sending a bigger envelope. It is very necessary for people to know the current increased US postal rates. The rates are subjected to change in the coming time, the chances of this rate increasing further is more probable.