USPS stamp prices are going up again this Sunday
Starting on Sunday, July 12, the U.S. Postal Service is raising the price of a Forever stamp from 78 cents to 82 cents. This is the latest increase in a streak that has made mailing a simple letter noticeably more expensive over the past few years.
Five years ago, a Forever stamp cost 58 cents. After Sunday's increase, it'll cost 82 cents, a 34% jump since 2021. It is the sixth price increase during that stretch, and if you've bought stamps recently, you've probably noticed they're starting to feel less like pocket change.
It's not just letter mail, either. Domestic postcards are increasing from 61 cents to 65 cents, while international postcards and letters are going from $1.70 to $1.75.
Why does USPS keep raising prices?
The short answer is money. The Postal Service says it is trying to slow years of financial losses while dealing with fewer people sending traditional mail. In fiscal 2025 alone, USPS reported a $9 billion loss. Operating costs increased by $1.8 billion, while revenue grew by only $1 billion. At the same time, mail volume dropped another 3.7%.
Some of those financial problems trace back nearly two decades. A 2025 report from the USPS Office of the Inspector General pointed to the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006, which required USPS to prepay retiree healthcare benefits and placed new limits on revenue growth. The agency says those changes fundamentally altered its finances and contributed to years of annual losses.
Don't be surprised if 82 cents doesn't last long
If you think this is the last increase for a while, USPS leadership is already signaling otherwise. Postmaster General David Steiner has suggested that a first-class stamp may eventually need to cost between 90 and 95 cents to help stabilize the agency's finances.
"As you all know, there are only three things that any company can do to improve financial performance — sell more products, raise prices or cut costs. On the pricing side, we need to look for higher prices on both our package and mail products," Steiner said before Congress in March.
With mail volumes continuing to decline, higher prices remain one of the few levers USPS can pull.
Your old Forever stamps are still forever
If you have been hoarding Forever stamps from years ago, you're in luck. Whether you bought them for 58 cents, 66 cents, or 78 cents, they still cover the cost of mailing a one-ounce First-Class Mail postage today. But if you haven't and you’ve been meaning to buy stamps, this weekend is your last chance to beat another price hike.
Source: CBS News
