Five\u2011cent hike takes effect July\u202f13, raising costs for postcards, international letters and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mail writers have a new number to remember:\u202f78\u202fcents. Starting July\u202f13, the United States Postal Service (USPS) will charge that amount for its ubiquitous first\u2011class Forever stamp, up from 73\u202fcents. The increase, cleared by the Postal Regulatory Commission after months of review, headlines a wider round of adjustments designed to shore up the agency\u2019s finances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Postage isn\u2019t the only thing moving north. Domestic postcards rise from\u202f56\u00a2\u202fto\u202f62\u00a2, while a one\u2011ounce letter within the United States now costs\u202f74\u00a2\u202finstead of\u202f69\u00a2. International mailers see their postcard and one\u2011ounce letter rate jump to\u202f$1.70, up a nickel. USPS says the package reflects an average 7.4\u202fpercent climb across its market\u2011dominant products\u2014part of the decade\u2011long \u201cDelivering for America\u201d plan to regain solid financial footing. \u201cOur prices remain among the most affordable worldwide,\u201d a spokesman noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wondering if you\u2019ll need to stock up on Forever stamps now? The good news is that any stamps already in your desk drawer will still cover a first\u2011class letter, no make\u2011up postage required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These pennies may look small, yet they add up for small businesses that still send paper invoices. After all, who wants higher overhead just to get bills out the door?<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, casual senders are likely to feel the impact only when the holiday\u2011card season rolls around. A family mailing 50 cards will pay about $2.50 more than last year\u2014roughly the price of a large coffee. Second, nonprofit groups dependent on bulk rates won\u2019t see immediate changes; those adjustments follow a separate calendar. Third, online sellers that use USPS flat\u2011rate envelopes are untouched by this round, which targets strictly letter\u2011class products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Still, every rise revives a familiar debate: can the postal service balance its books without discouraging the very customers it relies on? For many Americans, the answer is to lean harder on email and online bill\u2011pay, leaving USPS to carry less volume at higher marginal costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The next scheduled review is set for January, so mail watchers should keep an eye on the calendar. In the meantime, pick up a roll of Forever stamps if you prefer paper correspondence\u2014your wallet will thank you later.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Product<\/th> Previous price<\/th> New price (July\u202f13)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> Forever stamp (1\u2011oz letter, U.S.)<\/td> $0.73<\/td> $0.78<\/td><\/tr> Additional ounce, domestic letter<\/td> $0.28<\/td> $0.29<\/td><\/tr> Postcard, domestic<\/td> $0.56<\/td> $0.62<\/td><\/tr> Letter or postcard, international\u202f1\u202foz<\/td> $1.65<\/td> $1.70<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n What the new USPS price list means for letters, postcards and packages<\/h2>\n\n\n\n