The cost of mailing letters and packages in the United States has once again increased, with First-Class Forever stamps now priced at 78 cents up from 73 cents. This 7.4% hike is part of a broader effort by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to reach financial stability through its 10-year “Delivering for America” transformation plan.

Alongside the Forever stamp increase, other mailing services have also seen price adjustments. The additional-ounce price for letters has increased to 29 cents, metered one-ounce letters now cost 74 cents (up from 69 cents), domestic postcards rose to 61 cents from 56 cents, and international postcards and one-ounce letters now carry a $1.70 price tag a 5-cent increase.

These pricing changes are part of USPS’s ongoing strategy to recover from years of financial losses totaling $160 billion. The agency has committed significant investments across its operations, including $20 billion to modernize its mail and package processing network, $19 billion toward enhancing its retail and delivery infrastructure, and $2 billion in IT system upgrades.

Officials have indicated that further price hikes are on the horizon. USPS plans to adjust prices twice per year in January and July through at least 2027. These increases will affect all “Market Dominant” categories, which include First-Class Mail, marketing mail, and periodicals.