It just got more expensive to mail a letter. For the second time this year, the United States Postal Service has raised its prices. The cost of a first-class stamp is now 66 cents, up from 63 cents.
First-class mail rates rose approximately 5.4% in a price hike aimed at offsetting inflation. The new rates took effect Sunday, July 9. The last price hike was in January.
Domestic postcards increased from 48 cents to 51 cents, and international postcards rose from $1.45 to $1.50.
| Product | Current Prices | Planned Prices |
|---|---|---|
| Letters (1 oz.) | 63 cents | 66 cents |
| Letters (metered 1 oz.) | 60 cents | 63 cents |
| Domestic Postcards | 48 cents | 51 cents |
| International Postcards | $1.45 | $1.50 |
| International Letter (1 oz.) | $1.45 | $1.50 |
The United State Postal Service (USPS) is also making price adjustments on other products including certified mail, post office box rental fees, money order and mail insurance fees.
“These price adjustments are needed to provide the Postal Service with much needed revenue,” the agency said in a statement.
The Postal Service has raised its rates by 32% over the past four years. Forever stamps, however, can still be used for first-class mail no matter when they were purchased or for how much.
First-class mail is becoming a smaller part of the Postal Service’s business because of online communication. The number of individual letters sent each year has fallen by about half in the past decade, CNN Business reports
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, appointed during the Trump administration, has pursued sweeping changes during his tenure to try to bolster the agency’s finances. USPS expects to lose $4.5 billion in 2023.
