USPS Raises Stamp Prices Again This Weekend: 8th Hike in 5 Years
The U.S. Postal Service lifts postage rates on July 12 in its eighth price increase over the past five calendar years.
The U.S. Postal Service is raising the price of a first-class stamp this Saturday, July 12, marking the eighth time postal rates have climbed in just five calendar years — a pace that has drawn growing frustration from consumers and businesses alike.
The back-to-back increases reflect the financial pressures bearing down on USPS, which has struggled with declining mail volume, rising operational costs, and ongoing infrastructure investments. Each successive hike compounds the burden on households and small businesses that rely on physical mail for billing, marketing, and correspondence.
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Stamp prices have risen sharply when viewed on a historical chart, underscoring how dramatically the cost of mailing a single letter has accelerated in recent years compared to the relatively stable pricing that defined earlier decades. What was once an infrequent adjustment has become an almost annual — sometimes more frequent — occurrence.
For everyday consumers, the cumulative effect is significant. Bulk mailers, nonprofits that depend on direct-mail fundraising, and small retailers sending paper invoices face mounting costs that eat into already thin margins. Critics argue the rate increases risk accelerating the very decline in mail usage that USPS is trying to offset with higher per-piece revenue.
Whether the latest increase stabilizes the agency's finances or simply pushes more customers toward digital alternatives remains an open question — one that will likely shape future rate decisions. Continue reading at MarketWatch.com
