(NEXSTAR) – Need some more stamps? You may want to stock up before postage prices rise for the second time this year.
Starting July 14, a First-Class Forever stamp is set to go from 68 cents to 73 cents. Because Forever stamps hold their value forever (as their name suggests), you can buy as many as you want at the current price, before they each get 5 cents more expensive. Any you already have at home will also still be valid after the price hike.
The USPS has been increasing rates of many of its mailing services repeatedly over the past few years. Just recently, in January 2024, the price of a Forever stamp went up by 2 cents.
The increases have all been incremental and small, but when totaled together they have driven up the price of a Forever stamp 33% since the start of 2021.
“As inflationary pressures on operating expenses continue and the effects of a previously defective pricing model are still being felt, these price adjustments are needed to provide the Postal Service with much needed revenue to achieve the financial stability sought by its Delivering for America 10-year plan,” the USPS said. The Delivering for America plan was proposed by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy in 2021 to overhaul and modernize the postal service.
“USPS prices remain among the most affordable in the world,” the agency said.
Other postage price changes set to take effect this week include:
| Product | Current Price | Price after July 14 |
|---|---|---|
| Letters (1 oz.) | 68 cents | 73 cents |
| Letters (metered 1 oz.) | 64 cents | 69 cents |
| Domestic Postcards | 53 cents | 56 cents |
| International Postcards | $1.55 | $1.65 |
| International Letter (1 oz.) | $1.55 | $1.65 |