Here's What You Need to Know About the 2023 Stamp Price Increases
This marks the third USPS price hike in about a year.
If you've got mail to send, be forewarned that the price of a stamp is going up later this month.
Starting Sunday, Jan. 22, the United States Postal Service (USPS) plans to increase the cost of some postage by an estimated 4.2 percent–which works out to a few cents more per stamp.
Officials said the cost of a Forever stamp—which is valid no matter when you purchase it—would go up 3 cents, from 60 cents to 63 cents next week. As the Chicago-based news network WGN first pointed out, this is the third price hike for stamps in about a year, and if the trend continues, you may be better off buying a few extra now—especially if you plan to mail invitations, save-the-dates, or other correspondence to be sent off in bulk.
The USPS also filed a notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) in Nov. 2022 that plans to increase the price of Priority Mail by about 5.5 percent for non-commercial packages and 3.4 percent for Priority Mail Commercial. The postal service's press release also detailed a 6.6 percent price hike for Priority Mail Express and a 7.8 percent increase for costs associated with First-Class Mail Package Services.
Despite the price of shipping set to increase, the postal service explained that most of its price hikes are “well below the rate of inflation” and that the cost of other supplies needed to mail items—like Priority Mail flat-rate envelopes and boxes—will fall.
The USPS also stated that it no plans to add surcharges for residential delivery or Saturday delivery like other mailcarriers and confirmed that the price for Parcel Select Ground and USPS Connect Local would remain unchanged, offering some customers an alternative and economical shipping option.
