The U.S. Postal Service will raise the price of a First-Class Forever stamp to 82 cents on Sunday, marking the latest increase as the agency struggles to reverse years of financial losses and declining mail volume.
The 4-cent increase, approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission after USPS filed its request in April, raises the price of a Forever stamp from 78 cents to 82 cents.
Overall, mailing service prices will increase by about 4.8%.
The Postal Service said the higher rates are necessary as it confronts a severe financial crisis and rising operating expenses.
"In the midst of the severe financial crisis facing the Postal Service and continued rising operational costs, the Postal Service is using all available tools, including available regulatory pricing authority, to ensure we can continue to fulfill our universal service obligation," USPS said when announcing the changes in April.
USPS emphasized that it generally receives no taxpayer funding for operating expenses and instead relies on revenue from postage, products, and services.
The agency also noted that U.S. mailing prices remain among the most affordable in the world.
In addition to Forever stamps, the price of domestic postcards will increase from 61 cents to 65 cents, while international postcards and one-ounce international letters will rise from $1.70 to $1.75.
The additional-ounce charge for single-piece letters will remain 29 cents.
According to CBS News, the latest increase is the sixth hike in the price of a Forever stamp since 2021. During that period, the cost has climbed 34%, from 58 cents to 82 cents.
The increases come as the Postal Service continues to face significant financial headwinds.
The Postal Regulatory Commission reported the agency lost $9 billion during fiscal year 2025 as expenses outpaced revenue and mail volume fell 3.7%.
The Postal Service's financial challenges date back years.
The USPS Office of Inspector General has said the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006, which required the agency to prefund retiree health benefits, fundamentally altered its finances and contributed to the annual losses that followed.
Postmaster General David Steiner has warned lawmakers that additional rate increases may be necessary to stabilize the agency.
During congressional testimony this year, Steiner suggested the price of a First-Class stamp may ultimately need to rise to between 90 cents and 95 cents to significantly reduce USPS's operating losses.
Consumers who already own Forever stamps will not lose any value.
Because Forever stamps are non-denominated, any purchased before Sunday's increase will continue to cover the cost of mailing a one-ounce First-Class letter regardless of future rate increases.