The price of mailing a letter from your local post office will increase by a penny in just a few short days.

Wednesday, December 27, 2000

The price of mailing a letter from your local post office will increase by a penny in just a few short days.

On Jan. 7, the cost of mailing a first-class letter will switch from 33 cents to 34 cents, the U.S. Postal Service has announced.

This increase in price will total to about 15 cents more a month for the average household, postal experts estimate.

"And while we’re talking cents," said Kathleen Patrick, Ironton Postmaster, "it makes good sense for customers to purchase 34-cent stamps or one-cent stamps before the new rate takes effect."

Having necessary postage in hand now can save customers the delay of having to find the extra postage later, she said.

New stamps are available for purchase at local post offices.

The 1-cent stamps have always been available but now the new 34-cent stamps are available and in three different designs – Statue of Liberty, Flowers and the Farm Flag stamps, Ms. Patrick said.

Postal vending machines also are being stocked with the new stamps. Or, for those who prefer to use the Internet, the new 34-cent stamps can be purchased online at www.usps.com, she said.

"People have been buying the new stamps already," Ms. Patrick added. "Someone bought 50 coils just a few days ago."

The new stamps also can be purchased by phone by calling the USPS Stamps By Phone at 1-800-STAMP24, or by calling a local post office for a Stamps By Mail order form.