Beginning this summer, it looks like consumers will have to pay an additional 3 cents to mail a letter. Without the usual opposition, the Independent Postal Rate Commission gave heavy consideration to the Postal Service's request for new rates. Under the Unites States Postal Service (USPS) proposal, which could take effect as early as June 30th of this year, the cost of a first-class stamp would rise to 37 cents. Other increases requested by the USPS include a 2 cent increase in postcard mailings, a 35 cent increase in a 1-pound priority mail item, an 84 cent to a $2.18 increase in a 5-pound parcel post item, a $1.20 increase in a half-pound express mail item, and a 20 cent increase in certified mail items. In addition, insurance charges would go up for most mail, but would be reduced for Express Mail.

Affected by declining businesses in a slow economy, the USPS lost $1.68 billion last year and has anticipated a $1.35 billion loss this year after freezing new construction and cutting 12,000 jobs. Furthermore, the terror attacks, followed by the anthrax-by-mail infections, hit the agency with millions of dollars in additional costs for cleanup and preventative measures for future mail contamination. In the end, all but the American Postal Workers Union signed on to the deal, which avoided months of hearings and arguments before the agency. For more information on the expected postal rate increase, viewers may access the first two articles listed above by the Associated Press and Washington Post respectively. The third article, also from the Washington Post, delves into the financial outlook of the USPS, while the fourth article talks about their decision to eliminate wireless service. The fifth site leads to the Postal Rate Commission's homepage, where viewers can receive updated information on postal rates. Finally, the USPS Web site offers information regarding its online services, mailings, shipments, stamps, postal rates, fees, and more.