A short history of US Postal rate increases
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From www.usps.com:

New Domestic Prices Effective January 8, 2006 

The Governors of the U.S. Postal Service voted November 14 to accept the Postal Rate Commission's recommendation to increase most rates and fees by approximately 5.4 percent.

This price increase – the first since 2002 – is needed to fulfill a federal law passed in 2003 that requires the Postal Service to place $3.1 billion in an escrow account by October 1, 2006. Without this federal mandate, it would not have been necessary to raise prices in 2006. Among the adjustments, the 1 ounce single-piece rate for First-Class Mail will increase from 37 cents to 39 cents, and the postcard rate will increase by one cent, to 24 cents. 

The Board of Governors set Sunday, January 8, 2006, as the effective date for the new rates and fees.

Following are selected rate and fee changes: 

Rate
 Current
 Jan. 8
 
First-Class Mail Letter (1 oz.)
 37¢
 39¢
 
First-Class Mail Letter (2 oz.)
 60¢
 63¢
 
Postcard
 23¢
 24¢
 
Priority Mail (1 lb.) and Flat Rate Envelope
 $3.85
 $4.05
 
Priority Mail Flat Rate Box
 $7.70
 $8.10
 
Express Mail (1/2 lb.) and Flat Rate Envelope
 $13.65
 $14.40
 
Express Mail (over 1/2 lb., up to 2 lb.)
 $17.85
 $18.80
 
Fee
 Current
 Jan. 8
 
Certified Mail
 $2.30
 $2.40
 
Return Receipt (Original Signature)
 $1.75
 $1.85
 
Return Receipt (Electronic)
 $1.30
 $1.35
 
Delivery Confirmation Retail (Priority Mail)
 45¢
 50¢
 
Delivery Confirmation Retail (First-Class Mail Parcels)
 55¢
 60¢
 
Premium Forwarding Service (Weekly Fee)
 $10.00
 $10.40
 
Money Orders (Up to $500)
 90¢
 95¢
 
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Postal rate increases take effect Jan. 8, 2006
Dec. 26, 2005 World issue - On Jan. 8, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is increasing its postal rates. The cost to mail a first class, one-ounce letter will increase from $.37 to $.39, and the cost for other USPS services will increase according to the chart below. (Information from www.usps.com.)  


Rising rates

Early in the nation's history, it cost 6 cents to 8 cents to mail a single sheet letter up to 400 miles, 25 cents if it was going a longer distance. The price doubled or tripled for two- and three-page letters. On March 3, 1863, a standard rate of 2 cents was set for a first-class letter.

Changes since then:
March 3, 1883: 3 cents. 
July 1, 1885: 2 cents. 
Nov. 3, 1917: 3 cents. 
July 1, 1919: 2 cents. 
July 6, 1932: 3 cents. 
Aug. 1, 1958: 4 cents. 
Jan. 7, 1963: 5 cents. 
Jan. 7, 1968: 6 cents. 
May 16, 1971; 8 cents. 
March 2, 1974: 10 cents. 
Dec. 31, 1975: 13 cents. 
May 29, 1978: 15 cents. 
March 22, 1981: 18 cents. 
Nov. 1, 1981: 20 cents. 
Feb. 17, 1985: 22 cents. 
April 3, 1988: 25 cents. 
Feb. 3, 1991: 29 cents. 
Jan. 1, 1995: 32 cents. 
Jan. 10, 1999: 33 cents. 
Jan. 7, 2001: 34 cents. 
June 30, 2002: 37 cents.
Jan. 8, 2006: 39 cents

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