The United States Postal Service has officially filed a notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission regarding the proposal for a price hike. The notice was officially filed on the 9th of April 2025, and the commission is going to review it before the changes take effect. In case the proposal gets approval from the PRC, you might have to pay extra for the first-class stamps. If you are someone who wants to know more about the potential price hike, this article is for you. It brings you everything you need to know about the USPS proposing a price hike for first-class stamps.
What Did The Press Release From The Postal Agency Say?
According to an official news release from the postal agency that came out on the 9th of April 2025, the proposed changes in prices are necessary for achieving the financial stability that the organization’s Delivering for America 10-year plan seeks. This is especially true when the mailing and shipping marketplaces continue to change. It also further added that the prices of USPS remain the most affordable around the globe. The price hikes might go into effect from the 12th of July this year.
How Much Will The Stamp Prices Go Up?
According to the plan proposed in the official release from the postal agency, the citizens of America may witness the prices of first-class Forever stamps go up to 78 cents. The current price of these stamps is 73 cents, which marks a significant 5-cent rise in prices. Apart from that, it is also going to have an effect on metered letters, with prices jumping from 69 cents to 74 cents. International postage is also going to witness a hike in prices from $1.65 to $1.70. On the other hand, domestic postal card prices will go up from 56 cents to 62 cents.
Past Hikes In The Prices Of The Stamps
If we consider the past hikes in the prices of the stamps, we will get to understand how much American postage has changed. The same first-class Forever stamps that will soon sell for 78 cents were once sold at 22 cents in 1985. The prices of the Forever stamps took a historic jump of 5 cents only last year. The hike that took place in July is widely considered the biggest hike in USPS’s history.
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s Resignation
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy was the leader of USPS for a total of 5 years before his resignation in March 2024. In his official statement, DeJoy mentioned he’s confident that the organization is well-positioned and capable of carrying forward and fully implementing the many strategies and initiatives that comprise their transformation and modernization. He further added how he’s working closely in contact with the Deputy Postmaster General in preparing for the transition. DeJoy stated that the management team has successfully established a path toward financial sustainability and high operating performance. He also added how much work still remains necessary to sustain their positive trajectory.
What Is Trump Thinking About USPS?
In the month of December 2024, recently elected President Donald Trump talked about the privatization of USPS. He believed it would help the agency in competing with its shipping rivals, including FedEx and Amazon. Later in the month of February 2025, he mentioned how he might place the postal agency under the Commerce Department’s control. The postal agency has been operating independently for 55 years now. Elon Musk also extended his support to the idea of privatizing the USPS.
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