BY ANTHONY O’REILLY
Reach down a little deeper into your pocket if you plan to use “snail mail” any time soon.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) implemented an increase in the price of a first class stamp from 45 cents to 46 cents on January 27.
Congetta Chirichello, a spokesperson for the USPS, said the increase in the price of stamps comes at the increase of electricity and gas rates throughout the past few years.
“We don’t pay a fuel surcharge like our competitors,” Chirichello said. “So we have to pay for that ourselves.”
Chirichello said this is the reason why customers have been seeing a “traditional” annual increase in the price of stamps over the past few years. Last year the USPS raised the price from 45 cents to 46 cents.
Another big reason, Chirichello said, for the increase of stamp prices is due to the increase of use in the internet for such tasks in paying bills and communication.
“From fiscal year 2001 through the end of 2012, mail volume for this category has declined by almost 23 billion pieces,” she said. “Approximately 42 percent.
The price increase however didn’t seem to dissuade the people going about their day at the Bayside Postal Office. Residents were in unison in saying the extra penny wouldn’t drastically affect their decision on using “snail mail” for certain tasks, while busily going about mailing letters and packages at the office.
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