USPS Is Raising Stamp Prices Again—Here’s What Arizona Residents Will Pay

Do you still send out birthday cards, pay any of your bills by mail, or send packages? If you do, you’d better sit down, because it’s about to cost you more money. Yet again.

Beginning this month, the U.S. Postal Service is increasing prices, and once again, the bump will affect several mailing categories, including some of the most popular items, such as Forever Stamps, postcards, and international mail. The average increase across mailing services products is about 4.8%, according to CBS News.

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How Much is the Forever Stamp Going Up?

The cost of mailing a single letter may still seem fairly low, especially if you only send mail a few times a year. The cost of a Forever Stamp is rising from 78 cents to 82 cents.

If you’re one of those people or part of an organization that mails dozens of cards, invoices, or packages throughout the year, you know that those pennies add up fast.

The Postal Service says the increase is necessary to address “ongoing financial challenges, rising operating costs, and declining mail volume.” USPS officials have repeatedly pointed to a difficult financial situation in which expenses continue to grow faster than revenue.

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Is the Increased Cost New?

The timing for this increase isn't exactly shocking. If you’ve been monitoring the trend, you’ve noticed that this is part of a larger pattern.

Stamp prices have increased several times in recent years as costs have climbed and mail volume continues to drop. That same Forever Stamp that cost 58 cents in 2021 will now run you 82 cents after the latest increase takes effect.

If you purchased Forever Stamps before the increase, the good news is that you don’t have to run out and buy more; they will remain valid regardless of the current postage price.

READ: What Drivers In Arizona Can Legally Refuse To Say At A Stop

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Why Is USPS Raising Postage Prices Again?

This isn’t a shocker; the cost of everything else has skyrocketed lately, and the U.S. Postal Service is feeling the pinch, too.  They say the increase is driven by a combination of rising operational expenses, declining mail volume, and long-term financial losses. They’re using “available regulatory authority to adjust rates while meeting the universal service obligation to deliver mail nationwide,” the USPS shares.

The Postal Regulatory Commission claims that USPS expenses have been increasing faster than revenue. In fiscal year 2025, the agency's costs increased by roughly $1.8 billion while revenue grew by about $1 billion, and mail volume has declined by 3.7%.

READ: USPS is Making Big Changes in Arizona Mail Delivery

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Which Popular Mailing Items Will Cost More?

Three of the most common mail products are seeing increases:

• Forever Stamp: 78 cents to 82 cents.
• Domestic Postcard: 61 cents to 65 cents.
• Metered 1-Ounce Letter: 74 cents to 78 cents.

International postcards and one-ounce international letters will also increase from $1.70 to $1.75.

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A Declining Service Amid Rising Costs

The complete USPS pricing schedules are available online. With services like Amazon employing their own delivery services and a general decline in physical mail, this increase will be a stopgap, as the price of sending mail goes up yet again.