US stamp prices may increase again; here’s how much it would cost

Melania Trump presents Barbara Bush stamp

Melania Trump, current first lady of the United States, presented at the White House a memorial stamp for Barbara Bush, who passed away in 2018. Members of the Bush family were present and spoke at the event.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Postal Service said on Thursday it ​wants to raise the price of first-class mail stamps again after warning the company could run out of cash soon. 

USPS wants to raise stamp prices again

By the numbers:

The proposal, which must be approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission, would raise overall mailing services prices by 4.8% from 78 cents to 82 cents starting on July 12.  

Earlier this week, USPS won approval from ⁠the Postal Regulatory Commission for a temporary 8% price hike ​for priority mail and package deliveries, effective April 26, to deal with ​rising transportation and fuel costs. USPS plans for the surcharge to be in effect through January 17.

USPS warns of running out of money

The backstory:

Last month, the U.S. Postal Service warned lawmakers that it was heading toward a major financial shortfall and could run out of money within a year if Congress does not approve significant changes.

In this photo illustration, U.S. Postal Service (USPS) forever stamps are displayed on July 12, 2024 in San Anselmo, California. (Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

If it doesn't, the Postal Service might not be able to pay its employees or vendors by February 2027, with potentially dire consequences for mail delivery, Steiner told The Associated Press.

In July, stamp prices increased to 78 cents from 73 cents.

What they're saying:

"In order to ensure our survival beyond next year, we need ⁠to increase our borrowing capacity so that we don't run out of cash," Postmaster General Steiner's written testimony ​reportedly said. "The failure to do this could lead to the end of the Postal Service ​as we know it now."

Steiner, a former CEO of the nation’s largest waste management company and a former member of the FedEx board of directors, took over the struggling Postal Service last July. He said raising the borrowing limit is the easiest thing lawmakers can do immediately to help the agency.

"That will buy us the time to make the fixes we need to make, and we can sail on down the road," he said.

RELATED: Stamp costs could top $1 under urgent USPS proposal

USPS’s net losses for the 2025 fiscal year totaled $9 billion, even though total operating revenue increased by $916 million or 1.2%, due largely to its Ground Advantage shipping service. Net losses in fiscal year 2024 were $9.5 billion.

Ultimately, other changes are needed, as well, Steiner said, including giving the Postal Service authority to raise postage prices high enough to cover losses. He said increasing the price of a first-class stamp to 95 cents, from today's 78 cents, would be enough to "fix" the Postal Service's fiscal woes. 

A decade ago, a first-class stamp was 47 cents, although postal officials note it's still the lowest price in the industrialized world and covers a delivery range that's ten times farther than in other countries.

"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 said in an April news release. "USPS prices remain among the most affordable in the world."