The postal service has been trying to stretch out the time between price increases, said customer relations coordinator Jim Ahlgren, who manages Minneapolis' post offices. He said the postal service sets the increase to reflect the rising cost of service. Ahlgren said the postal service delivers all mail within 500 miles by semi-trailer truck. Ahlgren said area post offices have 80 million of the one-cent stamps featuring roosters. The postal rate increases are not across the board.
Most standard letters weigh about one ounce.
The heavier the letter, the higher the rate. The postal service delivers first-class letters weighing two ounces for 55 cents. The two-ounce delivery rate will stay the same, while rates for letters weighing three to 13 ounces will actually drop. The 20-cent post card rate will remain the same. This makes it difficult for University offices and departments to estimate how much money should be added to each budget to cover the increased mailing costs.