As expected, the Postal Rate Commission granted the USPS request. The details are in the press release about the proposal.
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
U.S. Postal Service Recommends New Prices for July 2024
WASHINGTON, DC — Today [April 9, 2024], the U. S. Postal Service filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission of mailing services price changes to take effect July 14, 2024. The new rates include a 5-cent increase in the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp from 68 cents to 73 cents.
The proposed adjustments, approved by the governors of the Postal Service, would raise mailing servicesproduct prices approximately 7.8 percent. If favorably reviewed by the commission, the price changes would include:
| Product Letters (1 oz.) Letters (metered 1 oz.) Additional Ounces Domestic Postcards International Postcards International Letter (1 oz.) |
Current Prices 68¢ 64¢ 24¢ 53¢ $1.55 $1.55 |
Proposed Prices 73¢ 69¢ 28¢ 56¢ $1.65 $1.65 |
The additional-ounce price for single-piece letters increases from 24 cents to 28 cents. The Postal Service is also seeking price adjustments for Special Services products, 
including Certified Mail and money order fees. Notably, there will be no price increase for Post Office Box rental fees, and the Postal Service will apply a price reduction of 10 percent for postal insurance when mailing an item.
As changes in the mailing and shipping marketplace continue, these price adjustments are needed to achieve the financial stability sought by the organization’s Delivering for America 10-year plan. USPS prices remain among the most affordable in the world.
The commission 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. R2024-2. The price tables are also available on the Postal Service’s Postal Explorer website at pe.usps.com/PriceChange/Index.
VSC Notes:
The USPS filing says the 5¢ increase is 7.674%.
Of interest to those of us who mail “flats” (large envelopes that can bend), the USPS filing says,”The Postal Service is also making a change to the price structure of domestic First-Class Mail Flats. Currently, and for some time, Flats have been
priced by the ounce, with a base price for the first ounce and a single price for each additional ounce. That is, the price differential from one ounce to the next is constant.
“Under the proposed price structure here, the Postal Service would price each ounce independently, so the price diff erential from ounce to ounce may vary. This structure should provide greater flexibility in pricing First-Class Mail
Flats.”
Based on the filing, a one-ounce flat would go from $1.39 to $1.50, two-ounce from $1.63 to 1.77, three-ounce from $1.83 to $2.04, and so on: 11 to 21 cents in each of these cases.
Periodicals will increase nearly 10%.
Stamp Fulfillment Services fees will increase 8.641%
Stamps are going up and the Service is getting worse here ..I get every body else mail but my own and complaining does nothing..It’s crazy
An Elks magazine was on the table in the waiting room. “Benjamin Franklin our first Postmaster General.” No mention of Louie DeJoy the finishing Postmaster General.
I saw an operation run this way with Kmart. Outside of Australia when was the last time you shopped there? However some here sadly will approve the decimation of services and severe asset stripping.
Is that an error, the listing in the chart above for proposed International Letter: “$1.55?” I believe it should be $1.65.
Yes, it was an error. It is fixed and I have flogged my proofreader. Seriously, thanks for catching that and bringing it to my attention.
So can someone explain to me the logic in all of this. A friend mailed an Easter card on March 25th from Buffalo, NY, and I received it San Francisco, CA on April 3. Technically 9 or 10 calendar days.
I have heard that the post office is no longer sending mail by air but by truck.
So we are going to pay 73c for a 1st class letter, and should not even contemplate it arriving for at least a week. So shouldn’t we call it 3rd class mail, since 90% of the stuff in my mailbox is bills or junk mail.
Please freely explain the logic. As far as buying new stamps I have now limited myself to higher denominations, as I have more than enough Forever and denominated stamps to last me a least 2 lifetimes.
I will thank you in advance for your responses
It used to be they would request an increase once every two years. Now it seems they get two per year. What is causing their deficits? Could it be junk mail just isn’t paying its fair (fare) share?
Several years ago, the USPS was told it could change rates every six months, in accordance with the rate of inflation (although the rate hike only has to conform to inflation [i]on average[/i], so, for example, First Class could go up 28% while Postcards would go down 26%, for an average of 2%….very rough before-coffee example!). When I have a moment, I’m sure the story is here somewhere and I’ll find it.
Here is is: The VSC story is here, Linn’s: US Rate Hikes Twice A Year Soon. It links to a Linn’s story that is still on its website here.
Thank you. I just thought it was arbitrary action on the part of the USPS.
Lloyd, do you know what fees the USPS is talking about when you reported, “Stamp Fulfillment Services fees will increase 8.641%.”
I don’t know for certain, but I’m guessing it’s the P&H fees charged for orders. On my recent stamp order of $76.80, I was charged $2.35 “handling” (but $0 on the “shipping” line). I’m sure that 8.641% is an average, but using that as the increase, my $2.35 handling charge would be $2.55 in the future.
All of the Above has been confirmed, the latest Postal Bulletin has the new rates for the US stamps, as well as the increased International postage rates. https://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2024/pb22653/pb22653.pdf