34-Cent Stamp Considered

The U.S. Postal Service is considering a boost in first-class postage from 32 cents to 34 cents, the first price hike since January 1995.

In closed-door meetings Monday, the Postal Service’s nine-member board of governors discussed raising prices to recover revenue lost to alternate forms of communication, like FAX machines and e-mail, as well as rising costs.

The governors are expected to announce today whether they will ask the independent Postal Rate Commission to approve the higher rates. Any rate hike would take effect in 1998.