US Postal Service announces new prices and services for 2013 Published Jan. 22, 2013 By Lionel Rivera United States Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa Postal Services Branch RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- Effective Jan. 27, 2013, the price for first-class mail single-piece letters will increase by a penny. A 46 cent first-class forever stamp will allow customers to mail letters to any location in the United States. The first forever stamp went on sale in April 2007 and featured an image of the Liberty Bell. In 2011, all first-class one ounce stamps became forever stamps with the exception of stamp coils. Forever stamps are sold at the first-class mail stamp postage rate at the time they are purchased. The advantages of a forever stamp to the consumer include the ability to stock up on first-class postage at the current rate and use the stamps until the supply is exhausted. As postage rates change, it is no longer necessary to buy one or two-cent stamps to add to the old postage stamp, said Lionel Rivera, Headquarters United States Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa postal branch public affairs officer. For example, forever stamps purchased prior to Jan. 27, 2013 are valid for the full 46 cent first-class postage rate, despite having been purchased for 45 cents. Highlights of the new single-piece first-class mail pricing · Letters (1 ounce) - 1 cent increase to 46 cents · Letters greater than ounce - Remains at 20 cents · Postcards - 1 cent increase to 33 cents · Letters to all international destinations (1 ounce) - $1.10 New domestic retail pricing for priority mail flat rate products · Small box -- $5.80 · Medium box -- $12.35 · Large box -- $16.85 · Large army post office/fleet post office box -- $14.85 · Regular envelope -- $5.60 · Legal envelope -- $5.75 · Padded envelope -- $5.95 New domestic retail pricing for express mail flat rate (where available) products · Envelope (Including legal and padded envelopes) -- $19.95 · Box -- $39.95 Global forever stamp The Postal Service is scheduled to introduce the first global forever stamp when prices change on Jan. 27. The new stamp will allow customers to mail letters anywhere in the world for only $1.10. What the postal service wants you to know A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, more than 150 million residences, businesses and post office boxes. The postal service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.