SouthernWorldwide.com – The United States Postal Service (USPS) is set to implement another price increase for its Forever stamps, with the new rate taking effect on Sunday, July 7, 2026.
This latest adjustment will see the price of a first-class Forever stamp rise from 78 cents to 82 cents. This move is part of a broader strategy by the USPS to address its significant and ongoing financial losses.
The USPS officially announced this forthcoming price hike in April. The agency stated that the increased cost for postage is a necessary measure to improve its financial standing. This marks the sixth time in the past five years that the price of a first-class stamp has been raised.
Since 2021, the cost of a first-class stamp has seen a substantial increase of 34%, escalating from 58 cents to the current 78 cents, prior to the upcoming change on July 12.
The Postal Service has been grappling with persistent challenges, including escalating operational costs and a continuous decline in mail volume. These issues have contributed to a substantial financial deficit, with the agency reporting a loss of $9 billion in its fiscal year 2025.
The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), the federal body responsible for overseeing the USPS, gave its approval for the rate increase in May. However, the commission also expressed concerns regarding the postal agency’s overall financial health, its delivery performance metrics, and the shrinking volume of mail being processed.
How much are stamp prices increasing?
Starting Sunday, Forever stamps will be priced at 82 cents each, an increase from the current rate of 78 cents.
In addition to Forever stamps, several other postage products will also experience price adjustments on Sunday:
- Domestic postcards will now cost 65 cents, up from the previous 61 cents.
- International postcards and letters will be priced at $1.75, an increase from $1.70.
Why is the Postal Service raising prices?
The USPS has explicitly cited its considerable financial losses as the primary reason behind the latest surge in postage rates.
A report released by the Postal Regulatory Commission in May highlighted that the USPS’s operational expenses are growing at a faster pace than its revenue. Specifically, for fiscal year 2025, the agency’s costs increased by $1.8 billion, while its revenue saw a rise of only $1 billion.
Concurrently, the report indicated that the volume of mail handled by the USPS fell by 3.7% during the last fiscal year. It also noted that USPS prices had already gone up by approximately 15% between July 2024 and the close of FY 2025.
Members of Congress from both major political parties have recently voiced criticism regarding the USPS’s performance, particularly concerning mail delivery delays. In June, Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican representing Missouri, announced an investigation into “ongoing mail service failures plaguing Missouri.” Earlier, in November, Representative Veronica Escobar, a Democrat from Texas, also brought attention to delivery delays in the El Paso, Texas, area.
Are stamp prices likely to keep rising?
USPS officials have indicated that further price increases are anticipated. Postmaster General David Steiner stated in March that the price of first-class stamps should be increased to a range of 90 to 95 cents to help stabilize the USPS’s financial situation.
Steiner explained during congressional testimony that companies have three primary methods to improve financial performance: increasing sales, raising prices, or cutting costs. He emphasized the need for the USPS to explore higher prices for both its package and mail services.
Furthermore, Steiner informed the House panel that the USPS was facing the risk of depleting its cash reserves within a 12-month period.
He suggested that raising the price of first-class stamps to the proposed 95 cents would “largely solve our controllable loss.”
Will older Forever stamps still work after the latest price hike?
Yes, any Forever stamps purchased at a lower price before July 12 will remain valid for use even after the new rates take effect. The USPS clarifies on its website that Forever stamps are designed without a specific denomination.
This feature is intended to save customers time and money, especially when first-class mail prices are subject to change. According to the agency, a Forever Stamp will always represent the current price for the postage of a one-ounce First-Class Mail letter.
