How much does a stamp cost right now? If you're not sure, you're not alone (in fact, I had to look it up for the purpose of writing this).

Currently, if you want to mail a standard letter, it costs you 46 cents, but that price will be rising at the end of January. 

On Tuesday, Postal regulators approved a price increase of 3 cents for a first-class stamp, bringing the charge to 49 cents a letter.

The independent Postal Regulatory Commission says the change is justified by severe mail volume decreases in the last five years.

The new price will take effect on January 26 and will last no more than two years.  The increase will allow the Postal Service to recoup $2.8 billion in losses.

Regulators rejected a request that would make the price hike permanent.

Bulk mail, periodicals and package service rates will rise 6 percent.

The mail industry opposed the price increase, saying charities using mass mailings and bookstores competing with Amazon will suffer.

The Postal Service says it lost $5 billion in the last fiscal year.

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