CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. – The cost of mailing a letter could soon rise again.
The U.S. Postal Service announced April 9 that it has filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission seeking approval for a new round of mailing services price increases scheduled to take effect July 12.
If approved, the proposed changes would raise mailing services prices by about 4.8 percent overall and increase the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp from 78 cents to 82 cents.
Other proposed changes include an increase in the price of a metered 1-ounce letter from 74 cents to 78 cents, domestic postcards from 61 cents to 65 cents, and international postcards and 1-ounce international letters from $1.70 to $1.75. The additionalounce price for singlepiece letters would remain unchanged at 29 cents.
The Postal Service said it is also seeking price adjustments for other First-Class Mail products, Periodicals, USPS Marketing Mail, Package Services and selected Special Services products.
In its announcement, USPS said the proposed increases come as the agency continues to face financial pressure and higher operating costs.
“In the midst of the severe financial crisis facing the Postal Service and continued rising operational costs, the Postal Service is using all available tools, including available regulatory pricing authority, to ensure we can continue to fulfill our universal service obligation and serve the American public,” the agency said.
USPS also noted that it generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and instead relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund operations.
The proposed changes are still subject to review by the Postal Regulatory Commission before they can take effect. The filing is listed as Docket No. R2026-1.
The announcement comes after U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez criticized a separate USPS proposal involving a temporary fuel surcharge on package deliveries, arguing that rising postal costs would place added strain on rural residents, seniors, veterans and working families.