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U.S. Postal Service Recommends New Prices for July

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Postal Service today filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) of mailing services price changes to take effect on July 12. The new rates include a 4-cent increase in the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp from 78 cents to 82 cents.

The proposed adjustments, approved by the governors of the Postal Service, would raise mailing services product prices approximately 4.8 percent. If favorably reviewed by the Commission, the price changes would include:

The Postal Service is also seeking price adjustments for other First-Class Mail products, Periodicals, USPS Marketing Mail, Package Services and selected Special Services products.

In the midst of the severe financial crisis facing the Postal Service and continued rising operational costs, the Postal Service is using all available tools, including available regulatory pricing authority, to ensure we can continue to fulfill our universal service obligation and serve the American public. The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. Notwithstanding the adjustment, the Postal Service’s mailing prices remain among the most affordable in the world.

The PRC will review the changes before they are scheduled to take effect. The complete Postal Service price filing, with prices for all products, can be found on the commission’s website under the Daily Listings section. The Mailing Services filing is Docket No. R2026-1. The price tables are also available on the Postal Service’s Postal Explorer website at pe.usps.com/PriceChange/Index.

Update: As expected, the Postal Regulatory Commission approved all the requested changes, which only affect the USPS’ “competitive” (that is, package) services: Express Mail, Priority Mail, Ground Advantage and Parcel Select. It will go into effect April 26 and continue through January 17, 2027.

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U.S. Postal Service Announces Transportation-Related, Time-Limited Price Change

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service has filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) regarding a time-limited price change to better align its costs of transportation with the market. This temporary price adjustment will provide needed flexibility for the Postal Service by helping to ensure that the actual costs of doing business are covered, as required by Congress.

While this price increase is a time-limited adjustment, it will provide a necessary bridge to a permanent mechanism to reflect market conditions in prices for competitive products that can support the Postal Service’s ability to achieve the universal service obligation in a more financially sustainable manner going forward.

The planned price change, which was approved by the Governors of the Postal Service on March 24, is an 8 percent increase that would affect base postage prices on the following retail and commercial domestic competitive products: Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage, and Parcel Select. No other products or services would be affected, including First-Class Stamps. Pending favorable review by the PRC, the price change would go into effect at midnight Central Time on April 26 and would remain in place until midnight Central Time on Jan. 17, 2027. At that time, the Postal Service can determine if a different long-term approach is needed.

Transportation costs have been increasing, and our competitors have reacted with a number of surcharges. We have steadfastly avoided surcharges and this charge is less than one-third of what our competitors charge for fuel alone, so even with this change, the Postal Service continues to offer great value in shipping with some of the lowest rates in the industrialized world.

The time-limited price change is consistent with industry practices and will support the Postal Service’s ability to continue achieving its public service mission — providing a nationwide, integrated network for the delivery of mail and packages at least six days a week — in a cost-effective and financially sustainable manner over the long term, just as the U.S. Congress has intended.

The PRC will review the proposed price change before it is scheduled to take effect on April 26. Complete USPS price filings, with prices for all products, can be found on the PRC website’s Daily Listings section at prc.arkcase.com/portal/filings. Price tables are also available on the Postal Explorer website at pe.usps.com/PriceChange/Index.

The US Postal Service now may only raise its “market dominant” prices once a year, not two as has been allowed since December 2020, as a result of the Pandemic. The ruling was issued January 13 by the Postal Regulatory Commission. The restriction goes into effect on March 1 and is in effect through September 30, 2030. The USPS had been raising rates each January and July, although it had already said it would not raise rates in January 2026.

In the order, the PRC states that “the Postal Service’s long-term financial problems “cannot be resolved by using pricing authority alone.” USPS ended fiscal 2025 with a $9 billion loss. The PRC does not believe that limiting the postal agency to a single rate increase a year will have a significant effect on its revenue. However, it hopes restricting the frequency of rate changes will encourage increases in operational efficiency and mail volume.

Despite setting higher prices (from 58 cents for a letter in January 2021 to 78 cents at present), the mail agency is seeing deeper net losses each year and is far from breaking even.

“Market dominant” services include first-class and advertising mail. The USPS has no competition there, delivering six days a week to 163 million addresses, but it does have competition on overnight delivery (“Priority Mail Express”), 2-3-day delivery (“Priority Mail”) and package delivery. Those services are not regulated by the PRC and the USPS does not need permission to change those rates.

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New Member Appointed to Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service today announced the appointment of Susana Rodriguez de Tembleque, a technology executive and creative director, to the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee, or CSAC.

Members are appointed by the postmaster general to provide expertise in business, history, science, technology, art, education, sports and other areas of public interest. Working together, they make recommendations for future stamp subjects.

Rodriguez de Tembleque serves as the vice president of design for IBM’s data platform. In this role, she focuses on crafting a user-friendly experience, ensuring that IBM’s AI data products provide trusted, clear and contextual insights in real time.

Previously, she served as vice president of design for IBM Research, where she built and led a multidisciplinary organization focused on delivering an exceptional and distinctive end-to-end experience.

Before her time at IBM Research, she was vice president and executive brand director for IBM Watson, overseeing the brand’s expression across products, marketing and communications.

Rodriguez de Tembleque has also held the position of creative director of retail at Apple, where she played a key role in developing Today at Apple, a global initiative that transformed the technology giant’s stores into spaces for learning, creativity and connection.

Originally from Madrid, Rodriguez de Tembleque is based in New York City. She is the mother of four children, ages 19 to 25.

Submitting Stamp Suggestions
Because of the time required for research and approval in the stamp selection process, ideas for stamp subjects should be received at least three years prior to the proposed issuance. Each submission should include pertinent historical information and important dates associated with the subject. Proposals must be in writing and submitted by U.S. Mail. No in-person appeals, phone calls or emails are accepted. Mail your suggestion (one topic per letter) to the address below:

Stamp Development
Attn: Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee
475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 3300
Washington, DC 20260-3501

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U.S. Postal Service Recommends New Competitive Prices for 2026

• Postal Service continues to offer great values for shipping and reliable service to the American people.
• Pricing actions are part of a balanced approach under the Postal Service’s 10-year transformation plan for achieving financial sustainability and service excellence.
• As previously announced, the Postal Service will not raise prices in January for Mailing Services; the price of a First-Class Mail stamp will remain unchanged.

WASHINGTON — The Postal Service has filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) for Shipping Services price changes to take effect Jan. 18, 2026. The proposed adjustments were approved by the governors of USPS this week.

The change would raise prices approximately 6.6 percent for Priority Mail service, 5.1 percent for Priority Mail Express service, 7.8 percent for USPS Ground Advantage and 6.0 percent for Parcel Select.

Although Mailing Services price increases are based on the consumer price index, Shipping Services prices are primarily adjusted according to market conditions. The governors believe these new rates will keep the Postal Service competitive while providing the organization with needed revenue. As the Postal Service previously announced, the organization will not raise prices in January for Mailing Services. This means the price of a First-Class Mail stamp will not change.

As part of the Postal Service’s network modernization and transformation plan, these proposed changes will support creation of a revitalized organization capable of achieving its public service mission — providing a nationwide, integrated network for the delivery of mail and packages at least six days a week — in a cost-effective and financially sustainable manner over the long term, just as the U.S. Congress has intended.

The PRC will review the changes before they are scheduled to take effect. The complete Postal Service price filing, with prices for all products, can be found on the PRC website under the Daily Listings section at prc.arkcase.com/portal/filings. The Shipping Services filing is Docket No. CP2026-2. The price tables are also available on the Postal Service’s Postal Explorer website at pe.usps.com/PriceChange/Index.

This table was compiled by The Virtual Stamp Club:

¹ Prices with the holiday surcharges that are in effect until January 18.
² The Postal Regulatory Commission does not rule on “shipping service” rates. These are a “done deal.”

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U.S. Postal Service Announces No Stamp Price Changes for January 2026

• Postmaster General David Steiner confirms no price increase for Market Dominant products in January 2026
• Delivering For America plan continues progress in controlling costs
• Postal Service prices remain among the most affordable in the world

WASHINGTON — A recommendation by Postmaster General David Steiner not to raise prices in January 2026 for Market Dominant products, which includes First-Class Mail, was accepted by the governors of the United States Postal Service. The price of a stamp to mail a 1-ounce single-piece First-Class letter will not increase in early 2026.

The Postal Service’s operational strategies are designed to maintain cost efficiency, boost service reliability and overall productivity.
“We continually strive to balance our pricing approach both to meet the revenue needs of the Postal Service and to deliver affordable offerings that reflect market conditions,” Steiner said. “We have therefore decided at this time to forgo a price change for First-Class Mail postage and other Market Dominant services until mid-year 2026.”

The Postal Service continues to work toward delivering on the tenets of our strategic 10-year plan, Delivering for America, and executing our public service mission — to provide a nationwide, integrated network for the delivery of mail and packages at least six days a week — in a cost-effective and financially sustainable manner over the long term, just as the U.S. Congress intended and the law requires.

The Postal Service also remains committed to continued cost-saving measures and keeping products and services affordable. We continue to take a very considered approach to pricing and note that only a handful of countries around the world offer a lower price for a domestic single-piece letter.

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U.S. Postal Service Announces Temporary Price Change for 2025 Holiday Shipping Season

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service filed notice today with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) regarding a temporary price change for some package services for the 2025 peak holiday season. This temporary price adjustment is to help cover extra handling costs to ensure a successful peak season.

The planned peak-season pricing, which was approved by the governors of the Postal Service on Aug. 7, would affect prices on the following retail and commercial domestic competitive parcels: Priority Mail Express (PME), Priority Mail (PM), USPS Ground Advantage, and Parcel Select. No other products or services would be affected. Pending favorable review by the PRC, the temporary rates would go into effect at midnight Central on Oct. 5 and remain in place until midnight Central on Jan. 18, 2026.

This seasonal adjustment will bring prices for the Postal Service’s retail and commercial customers in line with competitive practices.

As a strategic part of the Delivering for America 10-year plan, these temporary changes will support the Postal Service in creating a revitalized organization capable of achieving our public service mission — providing a nationwide, integrated network for the delivery of mail and packages at least six days a week — in a cost-effective and financially sustainable manner over the long term, just as the U.S. Congress has intended.

The planned price changes include:

Priority Mail Flat Rate

• $1.45 for Large Flat Rate Boxes.
• $0.90 for all other Flat Rate Products.

Priority Mail Express Flat Rate

• $2.00 increase for Flat Rate Envelopes.

[For other rates (not retail, not flat-rate) see the USPS Rate Calculator.}

Notably, the Postal Service has some of the lowest mailing rates in the industrialized world and continues to offer great values in shipping.