Are you still sending letters, postcards, or care packages through the mail? If your trip to the post office felt a little more expensive this week, you’re not just imagining things.
As we reported in April in a previous article, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) requested approval to raise the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp.
READ MORE: US Postal Service seeks to hike cost of a first-class stamp to 78 cents
Now, as of July 13, that increase has officially taken effect.
What you’re paying now
| Mail Type | New Price |
|---|---|
| Letters (1 oz) | 78¢ |
| Metered letters (1 oz) | 74¢ |
| Postcards (U.S.) | 61¢ |
| International postcards | $1.70 |
| International letters (1 oz) | $1.70 |
| Each additional ounce | 29¢ |
The good news (yes, there is some!)
While sending mail just got pricier, there’s a small win tucked into the changes: postal insurance is now 12% cheaper. So, if you’re mailing something valuable, insuring it just got a bit more affordable.
Why the increase... again?
USPS says these changes are part of its big-picture strategy to stay financially strong. It’s all tied to “Delivering for America,” the USPS’s 10-year plan to modernize how it works, fix its finances, and stay reliable in a changing world.
The plan launched in March 2021, and it’s basically a roadmap for making USPS faster, smarter, and more self-sufficient, so it can keep delivering for decades to come.
READ: Stolen mail belonging to over 50 people recovered in Sugar Land, 3 arrested
Even with the price bump, USPS insists its rates are still among the most affordable in the world.
Is there anything else changing?
Yep! Behind the scenes, USPS is also working on restructuring Marketing Mail and Package Services, including proposals to eliminate certain categories (like Bound Printed Matter) and expand Marketing Mail.
Only one new pricing structure went into effect on July 13, but the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) is still reviewing the rest.
