WASHINGTON — The United States Postal Service today filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) of price changes for Mailing Services products to take effect next year, following the end of the holiday mailing season. The new prices, if approved, include a two cent increase in the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp, returning the price to 49 cents, the price of a Forever stamp before the Postal Service was forced to reduce prices by the PRC as part of the exigent surcharge removal.
The last time stamp prices increased was in January 2014. Today’s price change filing does not include any price change for Postcards, for letters being mailed to international destinations or for additional ounces for letters.
The First-Class Mail prices for these products are:
| Current | New | |
| Letters (1 oz.) | 47 cents | 49 cents |
| Letters additional ounces | 21 cents | 21 cents |
| Letters to all international destinations | $1.15 | $1.15 |
| Postcards | 34 cents | 34 cents |
Stamp prices have stayed consistent with the average annual rate of inflation since the Postal Service was formed in 1971.
Pricing for Standard Mail, Periodicals, Package Services and Extra Services are typically adjusted annually and can be found at www.prc.gov. The PRC reviews pricing before it becomes effective.
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
Though the cost of Forever stamps increased by 2 cents, the cost of “marketing mail” (previously known as “standard mail”) decreased by 1.6% and Non-Profit Marketing Mail decreased by 3.8%, increasing savings to mailing customers. If you or your company need to mail high quantities, now is a good time to take advantage of the savings.