Published: May 09, 2008 06:06 pm            

Stamp prices increase right along with gasoline

Motorists aren’t the only ones feeling the pinch of gasoline prices.

Effective Monday, the price of postage stamps will increase from 41 cents to 42 cents.

Charles Louden, postmaster at the Brownsburg Post Office, said the price of postage is effected by gas prices. When the price of gas goes up at least one cent, Louden said it costs the postal service up to $10 million.

“And the turn down in the economy has not helped either,” he added. “We have a fleet just for the nation consisting of 300,000 vehicles that are filled up regularly.”

To help offset the postage hike, Louden said postmasters across the country are offering customers the option of purchasing a one-cent stamp, a 42-cent stamp, or the Forever stamp featuring the Liberty Bell.

Louden said having the Forever stamp will help eliminate lines during the price change.

He explained that the stamps can be used to mail a first-class letter any time in the future without additional postage, no matter when the stamp was purchased or used.

“It’s a good deal,” he said. “We’re selling the heck out of them.”

Louden said he has 35,000 books of Forever stamps and can order another box to make sure they have plenty of hand.

Brian Hise, postmaster at the Plainfield Post Office, said they are also well stocked with Forever stamps.

“We have been promoting the Forever stamp since the beginning,” he said. “It’s a really good thing.”

Hise said that gas is probably the biggest contributing factor for the price increase. When gas prices affect a business, he said it in turn affects the post offices.

“Hopefully, things will turn around shortly,” he added.

Phone calls to other Hendricks County post offices confirmed they too are well stocked with Forever stamps.

For more information about the price increase, contact your local post office or visit the website at usps.com/prices.

amanda.roach@flyergroup.com

        

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