The postal rate increase (to 41 cents for a first class stamp, plus other increases across the board) takes effect on May 14. This information is oddly absent from the otherwise very helpful usps.com website.

The new forever stamps will be rather convenient, even though, or perhaps especially because, I use first class postage less and less. (Rent checks are the only thing I routinely mail now, and even that may shift to electronic payments before too much longer.) I still have some 34 and 37 cent stamps I haven't used up yet -- time to stock up on 4 and 5 cent stamps, I suppose.