Forever no more? Stamp price hike ahead
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The humble postage stamp, a small but essential cog in the vast machinery of communication, is about to get a significant price hike.
The United States Postal Service (USPS), an institution as old as the country itself, has proposed a series of price increases that could see the cost of mailing a letter or postcard rise substantially.
If you're accustomed to sending out birthday cards, thank-you notes, or even paying bills via snail mail, it's time to brace for impact. When will these changes happen?
The Proposed Stamp Price Surge
The USPS has laid out a plan to increase the price of the Forever Stamp from 73 cents to a whopping 78 cents. This 5-cent jump is part of a broader strategy to adjust mailing service product prices by an average of 7.4%.
If the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) gives the green light, these changes will come into effect on July 13.
Here's a snapshot of what's on the table for proposed price increases:
“As changes in the mailing and shipping marketplace continue, these price adjustments are needed to achieve the financial stability sought by the organization’s Delivering for America 10-year plan. USPS prices remain among the most affordable in the world,” the postal service said in the news release.
Why the Sudden Increase?
The proposed price hikes are partly due to the USPS's desire to eliminate marketing and bulk services, including bound printed matter and marketing mail.
These services are used for advertising and promotional mail, and their potential elimination is still under review by the PRC.
The USPS's 10-year plan is a response to various challenges, including federal cost-cutting efforts and the need to modernize its fleet and operations.
The plan includes job cuts, the introduction of electric delivery trucks, and adjustments to delivery times, especially for rural customers. These changes are projected to save the agency $36 billion over the next decade.
Also read: How USPS lost billions despite price hikes—the surprising reality!
"For First-Class Mail, the current service standard day range of 1-5 days is staying the same, while the day ranges for end-to-end Marketing Mail, Periodicals, and Package Services are being shortened," the postal service announced.
A Historical Perspective on Mailing Costs
Forever Stamps were introduced in April 2007 at 41 cents each, with the promise that they would be valid for first-class postage regardless of future rate increases.
If the new rates are approved, the cost of a Forever Stamp will have risen by 90.24% in 18 years.
The US Postal Service stated on its website that its current pricing took effect on January 19, reflecting a mix of increases and decreases. Notably, Priority Mail rates were reduced by 5.7%, with some shipments seeing savings of up to $10.50.
Source: KSNT News / Youtube.
Additionally, flat-rate Priority Mail prices fell by roughly 1.7% starting in January. Details on the upcoming changes set for July are available at www.usps.com.
What This Means for You
For those who rely on the USPS for personal or business correspondence, these proposed changes could have a tangible impact on your budget. It's more important than ever to plan ahead for your mailing needs and consider alternative methods of communication where feasible.
In earlier news:
How will these price increases affect you? Do you have any tips for managing mailing costs? Share your thoughts and tips in the comments below!
The United States Postal Service (USPS), an institution as old as the country itself, has proposed a series of price increases that could see the cost of mailing a letter or postcard rise substantially.
If you're accustomed to sending out birthday cards, thank-you notes, or even paying bills via snail mail, it's time to brace for impact. When will these changes happen?
The Proposed Stamp Price Surge
The USPS has laid out a plan to increase the price of the Forever Stamp from 73 cents to a whopping 78 cents. This 5-cent jump is part of a broader strategy to adjust mailing service product prices by an average of 7.4%.
If the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) gives the green light, these changes will come into effect on July 13.
The US Postal Service (USPS) has proposed a price increase for Forever Stamps from 73 cents to 78 cents. Image source: Kareen Riskalla / Youtube.
Here's a snapshot of what's on the table for proposed price increases:
- First-Class Mail Forever stamp: from 73 cents to 78 cents
- Additional-ounce price for single-piece letters: from 28 cents to 29 cents
- Domestic postcards: from 56 cents to 62 cents
- Letters (metered 1 ounce): from 69 cents to 74 cents
- Letters (1 ounce): from 73 cents to 78 cents
- International postcards: from $1.65 to $1.70
- International letter (1 ounce): from $1.65 to $1.70
“As changes in the mailing and shipping marketplace continue, these price adjustments are needed to achieve the financial stability sought by the organization’s Delivering for America 10-year plan. USPS prices remain among the most affordable in the world,” the postal service said in the news release.
Why the Sudden Increase?
The proposed price hikes are partly due to the USPS's desire to eliminate marketing and bulk services, including bound printed matter and marketing mail.
These services are used for advertising and promotional mail, and their potential elimination is still under review by the PRC.
If approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission, the changes are set to begin on 13 July. Image source: KSNT News / Youtube.
The USPS's 10-year plan is a response to various challenges, including federal cost-cutting efforts and the need to modernize its fleet and operations.
The plan includes job cuts, the introduction of electric delivery trucks, and adjustments to delivery times, especially for rural customers. These changes are projected to save the agency $36 billion over the next decade.
Also read: How USPS lost billions despite price hikes—the surprising reality!
"For First-Class Mail, the current service standard day range of 1-5 days is staying the same, while the day ranges for end-to-end Marketing Mail, Periodicals, and Package Services are being shortened," the postal service announced.
A Historical Perspective on Mailing Costs
Forever Stamps were introduced in April 2007 at 41 cents each, with the promise that they would be valid for first-class postage regardless of future rate increases.
If the new rates are approved, the cost of a Forever Stamp will have risen by 90.24% in 18 years.
The US Postal Service stated on its website that its current pricing took effect on January 19, reflecting a mix of increases and decreases. Notably, Priority Mail rates were reduced by 5.7%, with some shipments seeing savings of up to $10.50.
Source: KSNT News / Youtube.
Additionally, flat-rate Priority Mail prices fell by roughly 1.7% starting in January. Details on the upcoming changes set for July are available at www.usps.com.
What This Means for You
For those who rely on the USPS for personal or business correspondence, these proposed changes could have a tangible impact on your budget. It's more important than ever to plan ahead for your mailing needs and consider alternative methods of communication where feasible.
In earlier news:
- Price hikes coming to the US Postal Service in 2025—here’s what to expect
- Postage shock? The price of “forever” might surprise you
How will these price increases affect you? Do you have any tips for managing mailing costs? Share your thoughts and tips in the comments below!
