The U.S. Postal Service is expected to start seeking approval for a double-digit percentage increase in postage rates early next year.
Such a rise would push the price of a first-class stamp to at least 41 cents - and hurt consumers and businesses that already have shouldered three rounds of rate increases in the past few years.
First-class stamps have jumped 12 percent since early 2001, with the last increase of three cents to the current 37 cents coming in 2002.
