Mail: The Postman Rings Twice

Since the U.S. Post Office Department became the semiautonomous U.S. Postal Service in 1971, the cost of mailing a first-class letter has gone up about a penny a year. Right on schedule, the service announced last week that a one-ounce letter, which has cost 200 since November 1981, will require a 220 stamp starting next February. The cost of sending postcards will go from 130 to 140, second-class mail like magazines will rise 14.2%, bulk-rate third-class 13.8%, and parcel post 11.4%.

"Our costs have overtaken our revenues," said Postal Service Board Chairman...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!