Beginning July 10, 2022, the price for postage of a first class envelope will increase from 58 cents to 60 cents. This is the standard Forever stamp. Be ready, though. A few other items will also increase in price [1]. Here are the details.
Letter Mailing
A regular first class letter rises in price from 58 cents to 60 cents. Metered mail that is up to 1 ounce will rise from 53 cents to 57 cents. Each additional ounce to mail will now cost 4 cents more than on July 9, going from 20 cents per ounce to 24 cents per ounce. If you take a vacation this summer and want to send a tourist postcard, make sure you have the new stamps. Postage for a post card is going up from 40 cents to 44 cents. That is often more than the price of a postcard. And finally a one-ounce international letter will raise in price from $1.30 to $1.40.
Why The Increase?
The postal service is blaming inflation and increased operating expenses on the price changes. Before this becomes permanent, the Postal Regulatory Commission will review and approve the price adjustments. They are expected to approve it.
What Else?
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said that he expects the Postal Service to
continue to raise prices at an uncomfortable rate
until the agency is self sufficient [2]. USPS has been facing financial challenges from FEDEX and UPS. The new law will allegedly save the agency $50 billion over the next decade.
The last stamp price increase came in August, 2021.
Notes:
- ^https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2022/0406-usps-new-prices-for-2022.htm#:~:text=WASHINGTON%2C%20DC%20%E2%80%94%20Today%20the%20United,58%20cents%20to%2060%20cents. (go back ↩)
- ^https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/05/14/mail-letter-usps-price-increase/9717687002/ (go back ↩)
