I just printed a label this morning and noticed that the rate is now $2.89, up nine cents. When did this happen? It was only two weeks ago the last time I mailed a book and it was still $2.80. And did the usps raise the weight limitation? I couldn't find out on their site.

Five minutes later...

Yup, I just found it. A price increase effective 1/24. It's $2.89 now for the first pound (retail rate). If you're savvy enough to access commercial rates, it's $2.10. Huh.

It goes up every year near the end of January. Thankfully it just increased 9 cents for the one pound package.

There was a thread about it in CMT https://www.paperbackswap.com/USPS-Media-Maill-Rates-Starting/topic/323579/

The increase was more subtle than that. It used to be an increase at every two pounds. Now it goes up every additional pound. So when you used to be able to ship a couple of paperbacks or a hardcover for the lowest rate, now you can't be sure that will be the case.