Some mail to foreign countries to cost more

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Many international postal rates go up Sunday, though the price of sending a letter to most of the world remains unchanged.

The basic charge to mail a half-ounce airmail letter to most foreign countries will stay at 60 cents, $1 for a full ounce, the Postal Service said. Letters to Mexico also will remain at the current 40 cents for a half-ounce and 46 cents for an ounce. But letters to Canada will cost 48 cents for a half-ounce and 55 cents for an ounce, up from the current 46 cents and 52 cents. This is the first increase in international rates since July 9, 1995. Domestic mail rates were increased in January, raising the price of a first-class letter a penny to 33 cents for the first ounce. The cost of sending an international postcard will go up a nickel to 40 cents for Mexico, 45 cents for Canada and 50 cents for all other countries. And the popular aerogrammes -- single sheets of paper folded to form their own envelope -- now will be 60 cents, up a dime. Their rate is the same for all foreign countries. Global priority mail, with a 4-pound limit, will increase from $3.75 to $4 for a small envelope and from $6.95 to $7 for a large one headed for Western Europe, the Middle East, Canada and Mexico. For the Pacific Rim and South America the rate will rise from $4.95 to $5 for a small envelope and from $8.95 to $9 for a large one. Express Mail will go up about 1.9 percent overall on rates that vary by place and size. Postal officials said there will be increases for the lower weights of parcel post but decreases for larger packages. Those rates also vary considerably by size and destination.

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