‘Forever’ postage stamps rise to 49 cents

The cost of a first-class U.S. "forever" postage stamp will rise Sunday to 49 cents. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 (UPI) — The cost of mailing a 1-ounce first-class letter in the United States will return to 49 cents on Sunday, the U.S. Postal Service said.

After steady increases, the cost of a first-class stamp declined from 49 cents to 47 cents in April 2016, but will rise for the first time since 2014, returning to 49 cents.

The overwhelming majority of postage stamps sold since 2007 are “forever” stamps, sold at the prevailing price and usable as first-class postage regardless of the cost of a stamp at the time of its use. They lack a face value, with the word “forever” included on the stamp instead of a price.

“Once it’s purchased, it never expires or declines in value, but at the time of purchase, it’s sold at the first-class 1-ounce rate. You can use it forever,” USPS spokeswoman Elizabeth Najduch told USA Today.

Postcards, mail sent from the United States to other countries and mail heavier than 1 ounce are not affected by Sunday’s price increase.

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