POSTAL RATE INCREASE TAKES EFFECT: LETTERS NOW 78 CENTS

The U.S. Postal Service has implemented a five-cent rate increase for mailing letters and postcards.

The new prices are:

First-class one-ounce letter: 78 cents

Postcard: 62 cents

Each additional ounce (letter): 1 cent

International one-ounce letter: $1.70 (up from $1.65)

Forever stamps remain valid for full postage regardless of when they were purchased, with no additional charges.

The USPS says the rate hike is part of its Delivering for America ten-year plan to achieve long-term financial stability. Officials note that U.S. mail rates remain among the most affordable in the world.