For those planning to dispatch letters soon, it might be a good idea to purchase a parity of stamps in advance. The U.S. Postal Service appears to be working towards an increment in the cost of their first-class Forever Stamp, along with other products, around two weeks from now. The potential change currently remains in the contemplation phase by the postal entity’s supervisory board, the entity with the ultimate authority to enforce such a decision. July 13 has been indicated as the date set for this prospective hike in stamp price.
The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), the governmental body responsible for supervising the operation of the postal service, is still deliberating on approving a proposed 5-cent increase for the stamp. With an objective view, the Postal Service has been utilizing a practical and grounded approach towards pricing that involves cautious execution of both existing and new pricing governance. The prices for their letters still stand markedly lower compared to similar expedited mail services in other countries.
The postal service, however, has not disclosed the definitive deadline date for the PRC’s decision regarding the pricing. The reason for hiking the stamp prices has been subject to numerous speculations. According to an announcement from USPS in April, the proposed future price modifications are deemed necessary to attain the financial equilibrium indicated by the organization’s Delivering for America 10-year strategic plan.
The organization also emphasized that their rates continue to be one of the most budget-friendly on a global scale. The implementation of the changes would result in a 7.4% surge in the rates for mailing service products. Inquiring minds have been trying to ascertain the exact date when this upsurge in stamp prices will take effect.
If the plan proceeds as predicted, the increase in USPS stamp prices could become reality on July 13, 2025. As for the projected cost after the increase, the Forever Stamp price may ascend from the current 73 cents to 78 cents. But stamps are not the only items affected by this proposed rate increase.
The scale of inched-up prices extends beyond Forever Stamps. Other broad range of USPS products are also on the table for prospective price hikes. Here’s a rundown of the potential price spikes: Domestic postcards may see a 6-cent increase, taking their cost from 56 cents to 62 cents.
The cost of letters might be revised from 69 cents to 74 cents, marking a 5-cent increase. Similarly, Letters weighing 1 ounce may experience an increase in pricing, shifting from the existing 73 cents to the proposed 78 cents. Furthermore, the additional-ounce price for individual letters might undergo a slight tweak, moving from 28 cents to 29 cents.
International postcards, too, would be subject to a price revision. Their price might take a small leap of 5 cents, escalating from $1.65 to $1.70. A similar pattern is expected with international letters weighing 1 ounce – their price is projected to increase from $1.65 to $1.70.