Forever Stamp Prices Just Went Up – Here’s What You’ll Pay Now
Forever Stamp Prices Are Going Up Again
It's July, so you're probably not thinking about Christmas cards. But maybe you should be.
According to USA Today, the price of Forever stamps has gone up. If you send Christmas cards, birthday cards, invitations, postcards, or any other kind of snail mail, you'll now be paying a little more if you buy forever stamps.
Why USPS Keeps Raising Stamp Prices
It's no secret the United States Postal Service has been struggling financially for years.
On March 17, Postmaster General David Steiner spoke before the House Oversight Subcommittee on Government Operations and made it clear that USPS can't continue operating the way it has been.
Email and Online Shopping Changed Everything
The rise of email, texting, online bill pay, and digital communication has dramatically reduced traditional mail volume over the years. Snail mail just isn't what it used to be.
At the same time, package delivery exploded thanks to online shopping. But even that has become more challenging. Companies like Amazon have built their own delivery networks, taking away a significant amount of shipping business that once went through USPS.
The Postal Service is also legally required to deliver mail to every address in America at roughly the same price, whether that address is in downtown Chicago or miles down a rural gravel road.
Add in rising fuel costs and borrowing limits, and it's easy to see why the agency continues to struggle financially.
How Much Forever Stamps Will Cost
Beginning July 12, the price of a Forever stamp increased from 78 cents to 82 cents.
Four cents may not sound like much, but it's a pretty big jump when you consider the first Forever Stamp cost just 41 cents when it debuted in 2007. In less than 20 years, the price has officially doubled.
Other postal rate increases include:
- Domestic postcards: 61 cents to 65 cents
- Metered letters (1 ounce): 74 cents to 78 cents
- Letters (1 ounce): 78 cents to 82 cents
- International postcards: $1.70 to $1.75
- International letters (1 ounce): $1.70 to $1.75
The additional ounce price for single-piece letters will remain 29 cents, according to USPS.
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Gallery Credit: Andrew Lisa
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