FOR THE FIRST TIME IN
NEARLY A CENTURY THE PRICE OF
POSTAGE STAMPS IS GOING DOWN.
IT'S PART OF A CONGRESSIONAL
DEAL THAT FIRST SPIKED THE
PRICE OF A STAMP TWO YEARS
AGO.
CBS 2'S ILANA GOLD SHAYS
CONSUMERS LOVE IT.
-- SAYS CONSUMERS LOVE IT.
Reporter: CUSTOMERS
COULDN'T BELIEVE THE COST OF A
STAMP WILL GO FROM 49 CENTS TO
47 CENTS.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE
GREAT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO PAY
AS MUCH FOR OUR STAMPS AND WE
MAIL A LOT, A LOT LETTERS.
THAT'S WONDERFUL.
MY BOSS WILL BE VERY HAPPY
WHERE I WORK THAT WE'RE
FINALLY REDUCING A STAMP
PRICE.
WHAT'S ATTRIBUTING IT?
Reporter: THE CUTS ON
STAMPS, POSTCARDS AND
INTERNATIONAL LETTERS IS THE
PARTIAL PAYBACK OF A NICKEL
SPIKE HIKE TO 49 CENTS
CONGRESS APPROVED TWO YEARS
AGO TO HELP STEM THE BILLION-
DOLLAR LOSSES OF THE POSTAL
SERVICE.
IN RESPONSE THEY SAID ABOUT
SHAVING BACK PRICES:  DESPITE
STRONG GROWTH IN PACKAGE
DELIVERIES, THE POSTAL SERVICE
CONTINUES TO RECORD
UNSTAINABLE LOSSES AND WE
CONTINUE TO SEEK LEGISLATIVE
REFORM.
I READ SOMEWHERE ABOUT THEY
HAVE TO FUND THE PENSION
SYSTEM FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
YEARS WHICH IS ONE OF THE ONLY
SYSTEMS THAT DOES THAT
REQUIRES BY LAW THAT THEY HAVE
TO DO THAT.
Reporter: PLAINVIEW ENGLISH
TEACHER IS RIGHT ABOUT
CONGRESS FORCING THE POSTAL
SERVICE TO OVERFUN ITS PENSION
SYSTEM SOMETHING PRIVATE
COMPETITORS ARE NOT REQUIRED
TO DO BUT THE TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES IN THE
POSTAL SERVICE UNION FEAR ANY
CHANGE IN FUNDING COULD
THREATEN RETIREMENT  PAYOUTS
SHOULD THE POSTAL SERVICE GO
BANKRUPT.
IT'S WHY PAUL SHAW SAYS ENJOY
THE PRICE CUT WHILE YOU CAN.
BUY STAMPS BEFORE IT GOES
UP.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TWO
CENTS BECAUSE IT'S NOT LASTING
LONG.
