USPS Quietly Moves Forward With Significant Price Increase for Mail

Earlier this year, the United States Postal Service (USPS) teased plans to significantly increase prices on postage in the United States to help boost revenue after posting a $9 billion loss in 2025. Next month, some prices will indeed be increasing.

When you go to the post office in July, expect your postage costs to be significantly higher as stamps are about to get more expensive.

A Significant Price Increase

Starting July 12, the cost of a First-Class Mail Forever Stamp will increase by 4 cents, rising from 78 cents to 82 cents. The price of domestic postcards will go up from 61 cents to 65 cents, while international postcards and letters will increase from $1.70 to $1.75. Meanwhile, the rate for domestic metered mail will move from 74 cents to 78 cents.

This works out to be about a 5% increase, but it's not as much as was proposed back in March.

In March, Postmaster General David Steiner said that the Postal Service wanted to raise first-class stamp prices to between 90 cents and 95 cents, saying such a price increase would "largely solve our controllable loss."

"As you all know, there are only three things that any company can do to improve financial performance - sell more products, raise prices or cut costs," Steiner told lawmakers. "On the pricing side, we need to look for higher prices on both our package and mail products."

Postal Service Faces Challenges

As a result of rising operating expenses and a steady decline in mail volume, the USPS has continued to face significant financial challenges, reporting a $9 billion loss in 2025.

Although the agency has implemented a 10-year strategy aimed at cutting costs and improving its financial outlook, Steiner recently warned members of the House Oversight Committee that the USPS could be "unable to deliever mail" in less than a year.

"I am not sure that the American public is aware that the Postal Service is at a critical juncture," Steiner said earlier this year.

"Less than a year from now, the Postal Service will be unable to deliver the mail if we maintain the status quo," Steiner added

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 10:48 PM.