How much is a U.S. postage stamp for a regular letter, as of Aug. 15, 2010?

On Aug. 15, 2010, a U.S. postage stamp for a regular letter cost 44 cents. The rise from 42 to 44 cents went into effect on May 11, 2009, and that rate remained in place until Jan. 22, 2012, when the price of stamps rose to 45 cents.

Congress set the first postal rate in 1792. The cost to send a letter depended on how far it was traveling, even within the nation. Since 1970, the Postal Regulatory Commission has set the price on stamps. The United States Post Office asks the Commission for a raise in rates when it deems such an increase necessary, and the Commission approves or denies the request.