The U.S. Postal Service will increase the cost of a first-class Forever stamp on Sunday, raising the price from 78 cents to 82 cents as the agency continues trying to narrow its growing financial losses.
USPS announced the planned increase in April, describing it as part of an effort to strengthen its financial footing. The move marks the sixth first-class stamp price hike in five years, bringing the cost up 34% from 58 cents in 2021 to 78 cents ahead of the July 12 increase.
The Postal Service has faced prolonged financial pressure from rising operating expenses and declining mail volume, reporting a $9 billion loss in fiscal 2025.
The Postal Regulatory Commission, the federal body that oversees USPS, approved the new rates in May. At the same time, the commission raised concerns about the agency’s financial health, delivery performance and continued drop in mail volume.
How much are stamp prices increasing?
Beginning Sunday, Forever stamps will sell for 82 cents apiece, compared with the current price of 78 cents.
Several other mailing products will also become more expensive on Sunday:
Why is the Postal Service raising prices?
USPS has said its ongoing financial losses are the driving reason behind the latest round of postage increases.
According to a May analysis of the USPS’s finances by the Postal Regulatory Commission, the agency’s operating expenses are rising faster than its revenue. For fiscal year 2025, USPS costs rose by $1.8 billion, while revenue increased by only $1 billion.
At the same time, U.S. mail volume fell 3.7% during the last fiscal year, the report said. It added that USPS prices increased by about 15% between July 2024 and the end of FY 2025.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have recently criticized the USPS for delayed mail deliveries. Sen. Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, said in June that he was launching an investigation into “ongoing mail service failures plaguing Missouri.” In November, Rep. Veronica Escobar, a Democrat from Texas, also flagged delivery delays in the El Paso, Texas, area.
Are stamp prices likely to keep rising?
USPS officials have signaled that additional price increases are likely. Postmaster General David Steiner said in March that first-class stamps should be raised to between 90 cents and 95 cents to help stabilize the USPS financially.
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“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 said in congressional testimony. “On the pricing side, we need to look for higher prices on both our package and mail products.”
Steiner also told the House panel that the USPS was at risk of running out of cash in 12 months.
But raising the price of first-class stamps to as high as 95 cents “would largely solve our controllable loss,” he said.
Will older Forever stamps still work after the latest price hike?
Yes, any lower-cost Forever stamps purchased before July 12 will continue to work after that date. The USPS notes that Forever stamps are non-denominated “to save customers time and money, especially when first-class mail prices change.”
According to the agency, “The Forever Stamp always represents the current price of a one (1) ounce First-Class Mail postage.”
Alain Sherter
