Stamp prices to increase on Monday, May 12
By Nathan Straus News Reporter

Stamp prices are on the rise. The 41 cent stamp will take a one cent jump May 12 to 42 cents.

To preserve the current price, the United States Postal Service will offer the Forever Stamp, a stamp good for mailing letters no matter the future costs of stamps.

McKinney Boyd, a USPS spokesperson for the Dallas district, said the 41 cent Forever Stamp will be all that is required to mail a normal letter even if the price jumps to 45 cents and beyond.

"The Forever Stamp is a stamp customers can purchase that retains its value forever and a day," Boyd said.

The Liberty Bell is featured on all Forever Stamps, Boyd said.

"We want our customers to purchase as many stamps as needed prior to the May 12 price increase," Boyd also said.

There are several reasons for people to purchase the Forever Stamps, Boyd said.

"Stamp collectors who buy stamps for many reasons can keep the stamp and place it in their collections," Boyd said.

There will also be a use for these stamps in case people wish to purchase stamps for a later event, such as for mailing invitations to a wedding.

Finally, Boyd said, there is a novelty in using stamps purchased from 2008 to mail a letter years later.

Finally, buying Forever Stamps and using them in the future will save money.

The last stamp price increase was in April of 2007, when the price rose from 39 to 41 cents. The stamp was introduced soon after.

"Americans appreciate a bargain," Boyd said.

Since the stamp's introduction, around 6 billion nationwide have been sold, Boyd said. The stamps sell at an average of 30 million each day, with last week's sales doubling this average.

Boyd said he expects to see at least half a billion more sold before the next price increase.

However, the 41 cent Forever Stamp will only be available until May 11, after which it will become the 42 cent Forever Stamp; the stamp will increase with the price.

Boyd said it would be better to purchase the stamp while it is still 41 cents.

Area post offices have an ample supply of forever stamps.