Starting Sunday, the United States Postal Service will implement another increase in postage stamp prices. The price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp will rise from 68 cents to 73 cents, marking the second increase this year and the fifth in the past 24 months.
The cost of domestic postcards will go up to 56 cents, an increase from the previous 53 cents. International postcards and 1-ounce letters will see a 10-cent hike, bringing the new rate to $1.65. Additionally, the cost for each additional ounce in single-piece letters will rise from 24 cents to 28 cents.
In 2023, the USPS handled 116.1 billion pieces of mail, significantly down from the peak of 213.1 billion in 2006. Despite the drop in mail volume, postage rates have continued to climb, with this latest increase representing a roughly 7.8% rise.
The frequent price hikes have led to concerns from watchdog groups like Keep US Posted, which calls for legislative action to address the ongoing rate increases and the USPS’s financial challenges.
