The U.S. Postal Service is planning to raise the price of mailing a letter this summer, part of a roughly 4.8 percent increase across its mailing services that would take effect July 12 if federal regulators approve it.
Under the proposal, announced April 9, a First-Class Forever stamp would rise from 78 cents to 82 cents. A metered one-ounce letter would increase from 74 to 78 cents, and a domestic postcard from 61 to 65 cents. International postcards and one-ounce international letters would each go from $1.70 to $1.75. The price of each additional ounce on a single-piece letter would remain 29 cents.
The Postal Service said the increases are needed to address what it described as a severe financial crisis and rising operating costs. The agency said it generally receives no tax dollars for its operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
The new prices are not final. They must be reviewed by the Postal Regulatory Commission, an independent federal agency that oversees Postal Service rates, before they can take effect.
