Reply #7: By law, they can now increase postage each year:

[KatyaR]

Consistent with The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, we will adjust our mailing services prices each May. By law, these prices can increase on average no more than the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index. We plan to provide 90 days' notice of the new prices each year, to help mailers prepare for the change.

http://www.usps.com/prices/welcome.htm

As a side note, as far as I know, postage metering machines cannot be reconfigured for the new rates this year, so everyone has to get a new machine. Pretty nifty, huh? :grr: