The U.S. Postal Service will raise the price of a Forever stamp to 82 cents on July 12, marking a 4-cent increase from the current 78 cents, as the agency grapples with rising operational costs and declining mail volume.
The increase is part of a broader 4.8% rate hike across mailing services, according to the USPS announcement filed in April 2026 and approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission in May. The change affects all First-Class Mail products, including metered letters, which will rise to 78 cents from 74 cents, and domestic postcards, climbing to 65 cents from 61 cents.
The USPS cited a “severe financial crisis” and “continued rising operational costs” as drivers of the price adjustment. First-Class Mail volume has declined 6.3% in the second quarter of fiscal 2026 compared to the same period the prior year, according to USPS financial reports. Overall mail volumes fell 3.4% to 25.6 billion pieces in the quarter, according to The Hill’s coverage of USPS data.
This is the second stamp price increase in less than a year. In July 2025, the Forever stamp rose from 73 cents to 78 cents, a 5-cent jump, according to AARP. The rapid succession of increases reflects the Postal Service’s ongoing financial strain as mail volume continues to decline despite revenue adjustments.
The USPS has faced mounting losses, reporting a $9 billion deficit in 2025 and a $2 billion quarterly loss in the first half of 2026, according to reporting from Reuters and The Hill. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has warned that without additional revenue or congressional action, the agency could run out of cash within a year, according to NPR.
Forever stamps purchased before July 12 will remain valid for mailing standard 1-ounce letters without additional postage after the price increase takes effect, according to multiple sources including the Card Making Community on Facebook.
Sources
- USPS Newsroom — Official announcement of July 2026 rate increases including 4-cent Forever stamp increase to 82 cents
- Reuters — Reporting on USPS quarterly losses and mail volume declines in 2026
- The Hill — Coverage of USPS financial reports showing 3.4% overall mail volume decline and First-Class Mail drop of 6.3%
- AL.com — Reporting on USPS citing “severe financial crisis” and “continued rising operational costs” for rate increases
- AARP — Historical context on July 2025 Forever stamp increase from 73 cents to 78 cents
- NPR — Reporting on Postmaster General warning of cash depletion within a year without additional action
