USPS raises Forever stamp prices to 82 cents

Stamp prices just went up

Mailing a birthday card or a bill now costs a little more. USPS raised the first-class Forever stamp price from 78 cents to 82 cents on Sunday, July 12.

The four-cent increase is part of a larger push to help the agency deal with losses, rising costs, and shrinking mail volume across the country.

Which mail prices changed

Forever stamps rose by four cents, but they were not the only mail product to get a higher price. Domestic postcards increased from 61 cents to 65 cents.

International postcards and one-ounce international letters rose from $1.70 to $1.75, while a single domestic one-ounce letter now matches the 82-cent stamp price.

Forever stamps still protect buyers

People who bought Forever stamps at lower prices can still use them after the increase begins. That is the main reason the stamp carries the Forever name.

USPS says each Forever stamp always covers the current price of a one-ounce First-Class Mail letter, even if the stamp was bought by customers many years earlier.

A series of stamp hikes

The July increase follows several earlier changes, making stamp prices feel less stable for people who still use regular mail for cards, forms, bills, and documents.

Since 2021, the first-class stamp price has climbed from 58 cents to 82 cents, including the July 12 increase.

Why USPS says prices rose

USPS says the latest increase is meant to support its finances after years of high operating costs and fewer pieces of mail moving through the system each year.

The agency told CBS News that its mailing prices remain among the most affordable in the world, even with Sunday’s increase for customers who still depend on letters.

Mail volume keeps shrinking

One major challenge is that Americans send fewer letters than they once did. Bills, invitations, statements, and notices often move through email or online accounts instead.

That shift leaves USPS with less mail revenue while it still maintains routes, buildings, vehicles, and workers needed to serve addresses across the country day after day in every ZIP code.

Expenses are growing faster

A May review by the Postal Regulatory Commission found USPS expenses rose faster than revenue in fiscal 2025, adding pressure to its already strained finances during a difficult period.

The report said costs increased by $1.8 billion, while revenue rose by $1 billion, leaving the agency with another difficult budget gap to manage for leaders.

A $9 billion loss adds urgency

USPS recorded a $9 billion loss in fiscal 2025, according to the Postal Regulatory Commission, giving the stamp increase a broader financial backdrop for readers and mail users.

The commission approved the price change in May but also raised concerns about delivery performance, falling mail volume, and the agency’s overall financial condition for mail service.

Little-known fact: Forever stamps have doubled in price since they were introduced in 2007, rising from 41 cents to 82 cents in 19 years.

Old rules left a long shadow

The Postal Service’s financial problems did not begin with the latest price increase. A 2006 law changed how the agency handled retiree health care costs.

A USPS watchdog report said the law limited revenue growth and helped push the agency into yearly losses after 2006, adding debt pressure over time for future postal budgets.

Service problems add pressure

Stamp prices are rising while lawmakers from both parties have criticized delayed mail delivery in several places, including Missouri and the El Paso area of Texas.

Those complaints make the increase harder to explain for some customers, because people expect better service when they pay more to send letters and cards through the mail system.

Future hikes may be coming

Postmaster General David Steiner has signaled that stamp prices may need to rise again to help stabilize USPS finances and reduce controllable losses in future years.

In congressional testimony, he said first-class stamps may need to reach 90 cents to 95 cents, while the agency also looks at costs and package prices more closely.

Early buyers saved a little

People who bought Forever stamps before the July 12 price change can still use them without adding postage.

The savings may be small per letter, but they can add up for weddings, holiday cards, business mailings, or families sending many envelopes at once through regular First-Class Mail service.

Wondering why 4.3 million people lost food stamps? See the policy changes and pressures behind the numbers.

What mail users should expect

Sunday’s increase is another reminder that mail service remains useful, but the cost of sending letters is slowly moving higher for households and small businesses.

Forever stamps soften the change for people who bought early, while USPS faces the harder task of improving finances, service, and public confidence in the years ahead across the country.

Why are USPS mail prices going up? Learn how the change affects stamps, mailing costs, and everyday customers.

What do you think about USPS raising Forever stamp prices beginning this Sunday? Share your thoughts in the comments.

This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing. Read More From This Brand:

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