U.S. News

Again? First-class stamp price rises to 49 cents

It's going to cost you a few pennies more to mail a letter. The cost of a first-class postage stamp is now 49 cents — 3 cents more than before.

Regulators approved the price hike in December, and it went into effect on Sunday.

Many people won't feel the increase right away: Forever stamps are good for first-class postage at whatever the future rate.

Andrew Harrer | Bloomberg | Getty Images

The last increase for stamps was a year ago, when the cost of sending a letter rose by a penny to 46 cents.

The Postal Service lost $5 billion last year and has been trying to get Congress to let it end Saturday delivery and reduce payments on retiree health benefits.

By The Associated Press