The price rises keep coming for USPS customers as they have announced they intend to raise the price of stamps again from January 22nd, 2023. This will come roughly 6 months after the last price increase we saw from USPS in July 2022.
It has been no secret that the USPS would be undergoing some radical changes as Postmaster General Louis DeJoy sets about his Delivering for America plan to make the postal service self-sustaining. After years of apparent neglect when it comes to profitability, he has made it well known that Americans should expect higher stamp prices in the future.
Coupled with the ongoing economic downturn and the shift from letters to packages, there is a lot of modernization needed to keep USPS functioning as the postal service everyone has come to know and expect.
You can see the full announcement from USPS on the proposed price increases below:
USPS Price Changes From Jan 2023
The United States Postal Service filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) of price changes to take effect on Jan. 22, 2023. The new rates include a three-cent increase in the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp from 60 cents to 63 cents.
If favorably reviewed by the Commission, the proposed increases will raise First-Class Mail prices by approximately 4.2 percent to offset the rise in inflation. The price changes have been approved by the Governors of the U.S. Postal Service.
The price for 1-ounce metered mail will increase to 60 cents, and the price to send a domestic postcard will increase to 48 cents. A 1-ounce letter mailed to another country would increase to $1.45. There will be no change to the single-piece letter and flat additional-ounce price, which remains at 24 cents. The Postal Service is also seeking price adjustments for Special Services products including Certified Mail, Post Office Box rental fees, money order fees, and the cost to purchase insurance when mailing an item.
The proposed Mailing Services price changes include:
Product | Current Prices | Planned Prices |
Letters (1 oz.) | 60 cents | 63 cents |
Letters (metered 1 oz.) | 57 cents | 60 cents |
Domestic Postcards | 44 cents | 48 cents |
International Postcards | $1.40 | $1.45 |
International Letter (1 oz.) | $1.40 | $1.45 |
As operating expenses continue to rise, these price adjustments provide the Postal Service with much-needed revenue to achieve the financial stability sought by its Delivering for America 10-year plan. The prices of the U.S. Postal Service remain among the most affordable in the world.
The PRC will review the changes before they are scheduled to take effect. The complete Postal Service price filing, with prices for all products, can be found on the PRC website under the Daily Listings section at prc.gov/dockets/daily. The Mailing Services filing is Docket No. R2023-1. The price tables are also available on the Postal Service’s Postal Explorer website at pe.usps.com/PriceChange/Index.
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