Overview

• The first-class Forever stamp jumped from 73 cents to 78 cents as the latest step in a series of price increases.
• The Postal Regulatory Commission approved a 7.4% average rate increase for both market-dominant and competitive mail products.
• Domestic postcards rose from 56 to 62 cents, single-ounce letters climbed to 78 cents, and international stamps now cost $1.70.
• USPS said the revenue increase is essential to its decade-long plan after years of declining mail volumes and over $100 billion in cumulative losses.
• Despite the hikes, the postal service maintains that its rates remain lower than those of many comparable foreign postal operators.