The cost of first-class postage stamps is set to rise by 3 cents—to 49 cents from the current 46 cents—on Jan. 26.

You may want to stock up on "Forever" stamps for a little while.

The good news is the increase is expected to be temporary. The Postal Service says that the price jump will only be in effect until it can make up the $2.8 billion in losses that it accrued during a large decrease in mail volume it says were caused by the recession.