Last week, the USPS suggested a few pricing hikes that might go into effect this summer, including a 5-cent rise for Forever Stamps.
If the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), the federal organization in charge of the postal service, approves the adjustments, they will take effect on July 13.
According to a news release from the postal service, the changes would result in a 7.4% rise in the cost of mailing service products.
The whole list of suggested price hikes consists of:
| Mail Type | Current Price | Proposed Price |
| First-Class Mail Forever Stamp | $0.73 | $0.78 |
| Additional Ounce (Letters) | $0.28 | $0.29 |
| Domestic Postcards | $0.56 | $0.62 |
| Metered Letters (1 ounce) | $0.69 | $0.74 |
| Letters (1 ounce) | $0.73 | $0.78 |
| International Postcards | $1.65 | $1.70 |
| International Letters (1 ounce) | $1.65 | $1.70 |
The postal service claims that there would be a 12% decrease in postal insurance.
“As changes in the mailing and shipping marketplace continue, these price adjustments are needed to achieve the financial stability sought by the organization’s Delivering for America 10-year plan. USPS prices remain among the most affordable in the world,” the postal service stated.
Proposals to do away with marketing and bulk services are partly to blame for price hikes
Additionally, the hikes are an attempt to end the postal service’s program of permanently bound sheets, of which at least 90% are printed with editorial, promotional, or advertising mail, or bound printed content.
A suggestion has also been made to do away with marketing mail, which is the postal service’s bulk mail service that enables companies to send out a lot of promotional and advertising materials.
The postal service stated that the Postal Regulatory Commission still needs to authorize the eliminations.
According to the Postal Service, a ten-year plan will save $36 billion over that time.
Among the many recent changes to the postal service are the price increases.
President Donald Trump’s federal cost-cutting initiatives, spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency, have also had an effect on the postal service.
This month’s changes are part of a 10-year “Delivering for America” plan that also includes slower delivery for some rural customers, job cuts, and the replacement of current, constantly breaking-down delivery trucks with electric ones.
Additionally, the postal service has revealed service adjustments that it says would result in a ten-year cost savings of $36 billion.
According to the postal service’s website, the majority of mail will be delivered in the same amount of time, although some may arrive a little later or sooner.
“For First-Class Mail, the current service standard day range of 1-5 days is staying the same, while the day ranges for end-to-end Marketing Mail, Periodicals, and Package Services are being shortened,” according to the postal service.
In what ways have postal fees gone up over time?
One well-known item affected by the price hikes are Forever Stamps, which were introduced by the postal service in April 2007.
According to the postal service, the stamp, which has no expiration date, was created to facilitate the process of switching from one stamp fee to another.
The cost of the stamp was 41 cents in 2007. The price of the stamps will rise by 90.24% over the next 18 years to 78 cents if the changes are authorized.
The postal service stated on its website that the current rates went into effect on January 19. There were both decreases and rises. Priority mail rates, for instance, decreased by 5.7%, with some dropping as much as $10.50.
Starting in January, there was also a 1.7% drop in the priority mail flat rate.
A comprehensive summary of the modifications that will take effect in July is available at usps.com.
