With a one-cent rate hike coming, Forever stamps popular
source:
By Diane C. Lade | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
February 14, 2008
郵資即將漲價一分;「永遠的郵票」燒滾滾
Related article: Stamps of Wild Approval
Consumers apparently still believe a penny saved is a penny earned, as many rushed this week to buy Forever stamps that will help them avoid a pending 1-cent rate hike in first-class postage .
消費者顯然還是認為「省一文錢等於掙一文錢」,所以大家趕著在平信基本郵資即將調漲1分美金之前去買這種「永遠的郵票」。
"a penny saved is a penny earned" 能省一分錢便是賺到一分錢。 "rush to" 趕著去。"Forever stamps" 以自由鐘為圖的「永遠」郵票,見上圖。"pending" 迫近的。 "rate"在此指的是郵資; "rate hike" 郵資調漲。"first-class postage" 第一類郵資,即一般信件的基本郵資,其郵資決定於郵件的形狀與重量。
The U.S. Postal Service announced this week that the price of mailing a standard letter will rise from 41 to 42 cents beginning May 12. But Forever stamps — so named because they are good indefinitely at the price purchased, no matter how much prices go up — allow postal customers to lock in the lower rate.
美國郵政總局本周宣佈,自2008年5月12日開始,一般平信的郵資將從41分漲到42分美金;但是郵局顧客可以利用「永遠的郵票」而永遠不受郵資增加的影響。
"standard letter" 是指重量不超過一盎司、信件機器可以處理的標準信封之平信。"Forever stamps" 是在2007年4月12日首度發行,當時票值41分,這種郵票顧客隨時都可購買,買價即是當時standard letter的郵資;之後不管郵資調漲多少,顧客寄standard letter時永遠都可使用這種郵票。"lock in" 鎖定。
Forever prices will rise a penny if purchased from May 12 on, however, as the stamp's value is tied to the first-class letter rate.
"tied to" 綁在一起、同步。"no faster than" 不快過、不超過。Consumer Price Index (CPI) 是政府用來量度物價與通貨膨脹的指數。
A 2006 law allows the postal service to raise rates only once a year, in May, and prices can rise no faster than the Consumer Price Index. About 5 billion Forever stamps have been sold since they were first offered, and another 5 billion will be in stock before May.
因為「永遠的郵票」其郵資是跟著第一類平信之郵資走,所以在5月12日後採購這種郵票時,就得多付一分錢了。在2006年時訂有一條法律,規定郵局一年只能在5月時漲一次價,且漲幅不得超過「消費者物價指數」。「永遠的郵票」在首度發行之後,已經賣了約50億張之多;在5月之前會再庫存50億張。
"tied to" 綁在一起、同步。"no faster than" 不快過、不超過。Consumer Price Index (CPI) 是政府用來量度物價與通貨膨脹的指數。