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Audio News Release: 2009 Mailing Services Pricing

The following four soundbites on new Postal Service mailing services prices – effective May 11, 2009 – are from Stephen Kearney, senior vice president for customer relations.

Soundbite one is one the consumer value and convenience of the Forever Stamp:

  • Customers can continue to mail letters at today’s price by purchasing the Forever Stamp before May 11. The Forever Stamp is always honored for a one-ounce letter with no need for additional postage. Forever really does mean forever.

Soundbite two is on how U.S. postage compares to other countries and what the stamp price change will mean to the average American household:

  • The Postal Service offers some of the lowest postage prices in the world. For the average American household, the two-cent increase in the price of a First-Class Mail stamp represents only an additional three dollars over the course of the year.

Soundbite three is on the reason for the price changes and how it compares to the rate of inflation:

  • The average price increase is at or below the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index. When compared to annual increases in other household expenses, such as groceries, healthcare and utilities, the Postal Service continues to be an affordable, economical choice for shipping and mailing during difficult times.

Soundbite four is on the value of Postal Service prices and services  during these tough economic times:

  • The Postal Service does not receive tax dollars for operations and is not immune to rising costs affecting every family and business. Even with the May price change, the Postal Service continues to offer a good deal for consumers and businesses during a time when we’re all looking for ways to save.

(Preceding audio courtesy of U.S. Postal Service)

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Please Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at www.usps.com/news.

An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that visits every address in the nation, 146 million homes and businesses, six days a week. It has 37,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products, and services to pay for operating expenses, not tax dollars. The Postal Service has annual revenues of $75 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail.