The U.S. Postal Service is planning to implement a price increase for mailing letters this summer, pending approval from federal regulators. This proposed increase, announced on April 9, would take effect on July 12 and is part of a broader 4.8 percent rise across its mailing services.
If approved, the cost of a First-Class Forever stamp would increase from 78 cents to 82 cents. Additionally, the price for a metered one-ounce letter would go up from 74 cents to 78 cents, while domestic postcards would see a rise from 61 cents to 65 cents. For international mail, both postcards and one-ounce letters would increase from $1.70 to $1.75.
The charge for each additional ounce on a single-piece letter would stay at 29 cents.
The Postal Service has stated that these increases are necessary to address significant financial challenges and rising operational costs. The agency typically does not receive tax funding for its expenses and relies on postage sales and services to operate.
Before the new rates can take effect, they must be reviewed by the Postal Regulatory Commission, which oversees Postal Service pricing. If approved, this would mark another increase in a series of adjustments aimed at stabilizing the agency's finances as part of a long-term restructuring plan.
