USPS Announces Mailing Services Price Changes
- Postal Service filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) on April 9, 2026, regarding proposed price changes for mailing services scheduled to take effect on July 12,...
- The proposed adjustments, which were approved by the governors of the Postal Service, would increase mailing services product prices by approximately 4.8 percent.
- Pending a favorable review by the PRC, the planned price changes for several common mailing products include:
The U.S. Postal Service filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) on April 9, 2026, regarding proposed price changes for mailing services scheduled to take effect on July 12, 2026.
The proposed adjustments, which were approved by the governors of the Postal Service, would increase mailing services product prices by approximately 4.8 percent. A primary component of this change is a 4-cent increase for the First-Class Mail Forever stamp, raising the price from 78 cents to 82 cents.
Proposed Mailing Service Rate Adjustments
Pending a favorable review by the PRC, the planned price changes for several common mailing products include:
- Letters (1 ounce): Increasing from 78 cents to 82 cents
- Letters (metered 1 ounce): Increasing from 74 cents to 78 cents
- Domestic postcards: Increasing from 61 cents to 65 cents
- International postcards: Increasing from $1.70 to $1.75
- International letters (1 ounce): Increasing from $1.70 to $1.75
The Postal Service stated that the additional-ounce price for single-piece letters will remain unchanged at 29 cents.
Beyond these specific rates, the agency is seeking further price adjustments for other products, including Periodicals, USPS Marketing Mail, Package Services, and selected Special Services products.
Financial and Operational Context
The USPS attributed these price adjustments to a severe financial crisis and continuing rises in operational costs. The agency noted that it generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and must rely on the sale of postage, products, and services to fund its operations.
The Postal Service is utilizing its regulatory pricing authority to ensure it can continue to fulfill its universal service obligation to the American public. Despite the proposed increases, the agency maintains that its mailing prices remain among the most affordable globally.
Recent Transportation Price Changes
These July proposals follow a separate, time-limited price adjustment filed on March 25, 2026. That specific change was designed to align transportation costs with market conditions, as competitors have implemented various surcharges.
The transportation-related adjustment involved an 8 percent increase in base postage prices for specific retail and commercial domestic competitive products, including Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage, and Parcel Select.
That temporary increase was scheduled to go into effect at midnight Central Time on April 26, 2026, and is set to remain in place until midnight Central Time on January 17, 2027. The USPS stated that this temporary measure serves as a bridge to a permanent mechanism for reflecting market conditions in competitive product pricing.
Review Process and Documentation
The PRC is responsible for reviewing the proposed mailing services changes before they are scheduled to take effect on July 12. The official filing for these changes is listed as Docket No. R2026-1.
The complete price filing is available on the Postal Regulatory Commission’s website under the Daily Listings section. Price tables have been made available through the Postal Service’s Postal Explorer website.