logo
US Postal Service hikes stamp prices: Find out what it'll cost you to send a letter now

US Postal Service hikes stamp prices: Find out what it'll cost you to send a letter now

Mint13-07-2025
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has once again raised the cost of sending mail, increasing Forever Stamp prices to 78 cents as of Sunday, July 13. The 7.4 per cent hike is part of the agency's ongoing effort to attain financial stability, a justification USPS has used for several recent rate hikes.
Under the new pricing, according to The Hill report, a Forever Stamp now costs 78 cents, up from 73 cents.
Postcards, which cost 56 cents earlier, will now be priced at 61 cents. International postcards and letters have gone up to $1.70 from $1.65.
According to the news outlet, the Forever Stamp remains a one-time purchase for customers to cover future first-class postage irrespective of future rate hikes. New stamp designs currently available include a SpongeBob SquarePants stamp, a 250th anniversary USPS edition, and one honoring former First Lady Barbara Bush.
The USPS has made several cost adjustments in recent years, another WPRI report stated. The report added that the cost of Forever Stamps has steadily increased almost annually since it was 45 cents in 2012.
Though there was no increase in Forever Stamp rates in 2015 and 2020, in 2023 and 2024, the USPS announced double hikes. The jump from 68 to 73 cents last summer marked the biggest single-year increase since 2019.
The USPS decided against raising rates in January 2025, according to a multi-phase plan the agency proposed in September 2024 to implement five price increases for stamps through 2027, beginning this July and then every January and July, the WPRI report added.
The USPS said these adjustments need to be made to fulfill the agency's 'legal obligation to be financially self-sufficient.'
It remains uncertain if the long-term price strategy, coined during former President Joe Biden's term, will continue during the Trump administration. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump had suggested several changes for the USPS. Shortly thereafter, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy tendered his resignation.
Despite the rising prices and uncertainty, the USPS insists that postage in America is a bargain. "USPS prices remain among the most affordable in the world," the agency reiterated in a statement in April.
A Forever Stamp now costs 78 cents, as of July 13, 2025.
The agency says the hikes are part of efforts to meet its legal obligation to be financially self-sufficient.
International letters and postcards now cost $1.70, up from $1.65.
Yes, the USPS proposed additional increases every January and July through 2027.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

'Biden couldn't finish a sentence without a nap': GOP drops autopen bombshell at Senate hearing
'Biden couldn't finish a sentence without a nap': GOP drops autopen bombshell at Senate hearing

Time of India

time8 hours ago

  • Time of India

'Biden couldn't finish a sentence without a nap': GOP drops autopen bombshell at Senate hearing

Tensions erupted during a fiery Senate Judiciary Committee hearing as GOP Senators accused Democrats of orchestrating a years-long cover-up of former President Joe Biden's cognitive health. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) delivered a blistering rebuke, demanding answers on who was truly making decisions in the White House. Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) questioned law professor John Harrison over the moral obligation of staffers to tell the American Public about President Biden's physical and mental health. Show more Show less

Bad news for Trump, as China is making close ties with US ally, offers its most dangerous weapons used during Operation Sindoor against India, it is…, country is…
Bad news for Trump, as China is making close ties with US ally, offers its most dangerous weapons used during Operation Sindoor against India, it is…, country is…

India.com

time3 days ago

  • India.com

Bad news for Trump, as China is making close ties with US ally, offers its most dangerous weapons used during Operation Sindoor against India, it is…, country is…

Saudi Arabia has long been regarded as a strong ally of the US. However, in recent years, it has appeared to forge stronger ties with China. The US has reconfigured its efforts to engage with Saudi Arabia by offering NATO-like security arrangements in return for Saudi Arabia's recognition of Israel. But the long war in Gaza has stalled negotiations on this front. On the other hand, China has enhanced its outreach to Saudi Arabia by offering military cooperation. For its part, China has offered to provide J-10 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, the same aircraft Pakistan falsely claimed was used to shoot down India's Rafale during Operation Sindoor. Which US Ally Is Moving Closer to China? This disinformation was heavily propagated by China, Turkey, and the USA, all acting in their strategic interests. None of these countries could provide any actual evidence for this. China is now taking this same narrative to market its weapons. It has labelled the J-10 fighter jet as a combat-verified aircraft. Despite its effort, no country—including Saudi Arabia—has yet made any formal commitment to purchase the J-10 jets. While speaking to a researcher specializing in Middle East affairs at China's Northwest University stated, 'One of the reasons why Saudi Arabia prefers western weapons over its Chinese equivalent is because Chinese weapons have not seen combat in recent years.' Furthermore, he stated, 'This may change now that the Chinese-made J-10 fighter jet has drawn its first blood.' What Deal Has China Offered? Saudi Arabia has consistently relied on the United States for both its security needs and the sustainability of its petrodollars-driven economy. Due to this, Saudi Arabia remained one of the largest defense buyers of America. However, in recent years, there has been tension in the relationship between the two countries. During Joe Biden's presidency, the U.S. appeared willing to distance itself from Saudi Arabia, most notably by stopping support for its fight against Houthi rebels; even though, at Washington's request, Saudi Arabia had created a military coalition against the Houthis. The U.S. further stressed the relationship by removing air defense systems from the Middle East in order to bolster European security because of the situation with Russia. Consequently, Saudi Arabia has sought alternative partners for defense cooperation to lessen its reliance on Washington. Meanwhile, turning fully away from the dependency on Washington and towards China is still complicated. Seeing an opening, China's intensification in its outreach has included offers of military equipment (i.e., ballistic missiles, drones, howitzers, and air defense systems), at competitive prices and unconditional options. So far, however, Saudi Arabia has exported most of its new defense systems from the United States. In May, the United States and Saudi Arabia finalized a $142 billion arms deal that the White House declared was the 'largest defense sales agreement in history.' The agreement was completed during President Donald Trump's visit to the Kingdom; this visit was the first stop on a four-day tour of the Gulf. It was the first example of the transactional nature of the foreign policy pursued by Trump.

Biden Sells Memoir for Roughly $10 Million, Less Than Obama and Clinton
Biden Sells Memoir for Roughly $10 Million, Less Than Obama and Clinton

Hindustan Times

time4 days ago

  • Hindustan Times

Biden Sells Memoir for Roughly $10 Million, Less Than Obama and Clinton

Former President Joe Biden has sold his presidential memoir to the Hachette Book Group for an advance in the range of $10 million, according to people familiar with the matter. The memoir's publisher, Hachette's Little, Brown & Co., hasn't yet set a publication date. Biden, who is 82, said at an event earlier this month that he was 'working my tail off' to write a memoir, and indicated that he would focus on the four years he served as president. Presidents and their spouses routinely shop memoirs after their time at the White House. Such books can provide a major source of income, and help the public figures frame their legacies. Biden was represented by Creative Artists Agency, which sold Hachette worldwide rights for the book. CAA also represented Biden for his 2017 memoir 'Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship and Purpose.' The No. 1 bestseller told the story of Biden's relationship with his oldest son, Beau, who died from brain cancer in 2015. Spokeswomen for Hachette and CAA declined to comment. A representative for Biden declined to comment. Biden's representatives said in May that the former president had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The illness was described in a statement from his personal office as a 'more aggressive form of the disease,' but one that 'appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management.' Biden's health will likely determine the timeline for completing a manuscript and any book publicity plans. Biden's lengthy political career includes an eight-year term as vice president during the Obama administration and four years as president between January 2021 and January 2025. Biden dropped out of the presidential race in late July 2024 in the face of concerns about his age and mental acuity. Some critics have said that timing contributed to Donald Trump's presidential victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, whom Biden endorsed. Penguin Random House acquired the rights to books by former U.S. President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama in 2017 for a price that was widely reported at the time as being in the range of $60 million. President Trump didn't publish a memoir after his first term in office. Alfred A. Knopf, which like Penguin Random House is owned by Bertelsmann, paid $15 million for President Bill Clinton's 2004 memoir 'My Life.' Write to Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg at

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store