U.S. postage prices to increase again in January 2024
First Class Forever stamp to increase two cents from 66 to 68 cents
by Pinedale Online!
December 12, 2023
The United States Postal Service (USPS) will increase mailing services price changes that will take effect on January 21, 2024. The price of a first-class mail Forever stamp will increase two cents, from 66 cents to 68 cents. There will also be increases in products including certified mail, post office box rental fees, money order fees and the cost to purchase insurance when mailing an item.
Letters (1 ounce): Current price: 66 cents, 2024 price: 68 cents
Letters (metered 1 ounce): Current price: 63 cents, 2024 price: 64 cents
Domestic Postcards: Current price: 51 cents, 2024 price: 53 cents
International Postcards: Current price: $1.50, 2024 price: $1.55
International Letter (1 ounce): Current price: $1.50, 2024 price: $1.55
Source: U.S. Postal Service Proposes New Prices for 2024 U.S. Postal Service, Oct. 6, 2023. Note: These price increase requests were approved in mid-November 2023.
This is the fourth stamp price increase in two years by the USPS. In July of 2022, the price of a first-class Forever stamp went up from 58 cents to 60 cents. They increased the price of a first-class Forever stamp by three cents again in January of 2023, from 60 cents to 63 cents. The USPS again increased first-class Forever stamp prices in July 2023, going from 63 cents to 66 cents. The latest change is about a two percent price increase in their postal services.
The Postal Service first started selling Forever stamps in 2007, when they cost 41 cents. Forever stamps can be used for sending all regular-letter mail weighing less than 1 ounce. As the name suggests, Forever stamps can be used at any time after purchase, regardless of whether the postage rate goes up in the future. So if you stock up on Forever stamps at the current price, they will still be good after this new and future price increase.
USPS Forever Stamp Historical Prices
July 9, 2023: $0.66
January 22, 2023: $0.63
July 10, 2022: $0.60
August 29, 2021: $0.58
January 24, 2021: $0.55
January 26, 2020: $0.55
January 27, 2019: $0.55
January 21, 2018: $0.50
January 22, 2017: $0.49
April 10, 2016: $0.47
January 26, 2014: $0.49
January 27, 2013: $0.46
January 22, 2012: $0.45
May 11, 2009: $0.44
May 12, 2008: $0.42
April 12, 2007: $0.41
Source: https://foreverstampprice.com/
The USPS website states, "As inflationary pressures on operating expenses continue and the effects of a previously defective pricing model are still being felt, these price adjustments are needed to 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 Postal Service remain among the most affordable in the world."
The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing. The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
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