The changes, if approved, could take effect in 60 days, plenty of time to heed the warning sounded by several Utahns and rename the new product the "almost never" stamp.

Despite the potential cost savings and convenience of the new postage stamp, customers exiting the downtown Salt Lake City post office were unimpressed. Out of a dozen people interviewed, not one said they would stock up on stamps as a result.

Even more telling, the proposed 2-cent increase from 39 cents drew but a single complaint, signaling a growing indifference that is difficult to ignore.

Jacque VanOrman, 20, of Salt Lake City summed up the problem when she noted the purpose of her visit.

"I'm here to get my passport," she shrugged. "I rarely mail anything anymore. I do everything online."

The USPS delivers about 40 percent of the world's mail, or more than 200 billion pieces of mail annually. For the past decade, however, the independent government agency has faced increased competition from package delivery and courier services, as well as the Internet.

Meanwhile, the Postal Service is trying to cope with the same cost pressures affecting U.S. households and businesses. For example, each penny increase in the price of a gallon of gasoline costs the post office $8 million a year, and the post office cannot simply add a fuel surcharge to its rates.

"Adoption of this proposal is good for the Postal Service, postal customers and our postal system," commission Chairman Dan G. Blair said at a Monday briefing.

There have been four increases in the first-class rate since 1995, with the last one occurring in January 2006.

The increases meant people had to cobble together a collection of small-denomination stamps to add up to a new price.

The forever stamp would change that. It would not carry a denomination, but would sell for whatever the first-class rate was at the time.

For example, if the 41-cent rate takes effect, forever stamps would sell for 41 cents. If rates later climbed to 45 cents or more, the price of the forever stamp would also go up at the counter or machine, but those purchased before the change would still be valid to mail a letter.

So there would be no need to buy small-denomination stamps to add to envelopes.

Today, first-class mail costs 39 cents for the first ounce and 24 cents for each additional ounce.

Although the first ounce would rise to 41 cents under the proposal, it would cost just 17 cents for each additional ounce.

That means the price of sending a 2-ounce letter would decrease, from 63 cents to 58 cents.

The proposal also recommended a 2-cent boost, to 26 cents, in the cost of mailing a postcard, also a penny less than the Postal Service had sought.

Blair said the rate proposals were scaled back because the higher rates the post office proposed would have raised more income than necessary for the service to break even in 2008.

Still, the increase will boost the cost of doing business for legal services, newspapers, insurance companies and any other service that depends heavily on bulk mail. Even shops such as the Utah Paper Box Company, which ships its custom-made cartons by freight, would take a hit.

"It all adds up," said accountant Dawn Sterner, noting that UPB mails as many as 100 invoices and 200 checks a day, depending on the billing cycle.

Sallie Richardson, who works for a legal services company in Salt Lake City, said her employer would be hurt by the new fees. But her advice centered less on the postal part of the postal service.

"If they would speed up their service, that would really help."

lfantin@sltrib.com

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* The Associated Press

contributed to this story.

Before the middle of the 19th century, rates were based on the number of sheets in a letter and the distance it was traveling. In 1845, rates were based on weight and distance. Beginning in 1863, domestic letter rates became "uniform," that is, they were based solely on weight, regardless of distance.

Proposed changes

in postal rates

Priority Mail, 1 pound, $4.60, up from $4.05.

* Express Mail, 8 ounces, $16.25, up from $14.40.

* Parcel post, 5 pounds, $5.67, up from $4.36.

* Certified Mail, $2.65, up from $2.40.

* Money orders up to $500, $1.05, up from 95 cents.

* Bank statement, 3 ounces, 58.4 cents, down from 73.9 cents.

* Department store bill, presorted, 37.3 cents, up from 37.1 cents.

* Weekly newsmagazine, 5.8 ounces, presorted, 20.6 cents, up from 18.5 cents.

* Household magazine, 13.8 ounces, presorted, 33.6 cents, up from 28.9 cents.

* National newspaper, 10 ounces, presorted, 36.4 cents, up from 31.4 cents.

* Small nonprofit magazine, 4 ounces, presorted, 32.4 cents, up from 28.3 cents.

* Advertising, 2 ounces, presorted, 23.3 cents, up from 21.4 cents.

* Advertising, 9 ounces, last envelope, presorted, 62.9 cents, up from 57.0 cents.

* Nonprofit mail, 1 ounce, 16.4 cents, down from 17.0 cents.

* Church bulletin, 12.7 cents, down from 18.9 cents.

* Library mail, 2 pounds, presorted, $1.88, up from $1.78.