USPS to raise the price of a Forever stamp to 82 cents on Sunday. Here's what to know.

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CBS News

Updated on: July 7, 2026 / 6:16 PM EDT


The U.S. Postal Service on Sunday will raise the price of a first-class Forever stamp from 78 cents to 82 cents, the latest in a series of increases aimed at stemming the agency's mounting financial losses. The USPS announced the increase in April, saying the higher price was intended to bolster its finances. Over the past five years, the agency has raised the price of a first-class stamp six times, increasing the cost 34% from 58 cents in 2021 to 78 cents before the hike set to kick in on July 12.

The USPS has struggled for years with high costs and shrinking mail volumes, while policy changes implemented by Congress also weakened the agency's finances. The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 (PAEA) — which, among other changes, created a fund that required the agency to prepay health care benefits for postal service retirees — contributed to the agency's losses in subsequent years and sharply increased its debt load, according to a 2025 report by the USPS Office of the Inspector General.

"[T]he passage of PAEA in December of 2006 fundamentally altered the Postal Service's financial results by limiting revenue growth and adjusting retiree healthcare costs. Following 2006, the Postal Service recorded net losses each year," the agency watchdog stated.

The Postal Regulatory Commission, the federal agency that oversees the USPS, approved the postage rate hike in May. However, it flagged concerns with the agency's financial situation, its delivery performance and shrinking mail volumes. In fiscal 2025, the USPS recorded a $9 billion loss.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/usps-forever-stamp-price-increase-july-2026/

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NOTE: CBS neglected to mention that the 2006 law WAS REPEALED IN 2022 (I.e., the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 was repealed but the damage was done) -

CURRENT LAW
H.R.3076 - Postal Service Reform Act of 2022

[no_hypocrisy]

1. I'll never understand why the Democrats, once they had control of the House and

Senate, didn't reform or abolish the pre-born pension and financing scheme. If anything, this program has made the USPS lose more money. More people are paying their bills online instead of adding another (as of Sunday) 82 cents to their payment.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. You didn't read my OP comment

Democrats DID reform it when we took control of Congress and the Presidency after the 2020 election-

NOTE: CBS neglected to mention that the 2006 law WAS REPEALED IN 2022 (I.e., the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 was repealed but the damage was done) -

CURRENT LAW
H.R.3076 - Postal Service Reform Act of 2022

The only other time we had that control was after the 2008 election (the prefund had only been enacted 2 years earlier), from 2009 - 2010 (and then we got blown out in 2010 after Citizens United and the ACA passage).

[no_hypocrisy]

3. My Bad. Thanks.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. ...

[lamp_shade]

4. I've still got 13 forever stamps that I bought at least 10 years ago.

I rarely use stamps... maybe twice a year.

[BettyBlueDot]

9. Me , too

Have 20 cent ones with the flag. Hv a whole sheet of Judy Garland 2006 Legends of Hollywood, so I guess maybe 37 cents a piece? I remember mailing a letter to Hollywood for a nickel.

[mdbl]

5. CBS will be leaving lotsa facts out from now on

It's part of their new mission to compete with Fux Nooze.

[twodogsbarking]

7. Stamps have performed better than the DOW.

[Bayard]

8. I can remember when a first class stamp was a nickel

I guess that puts me in the antique column.

[miyazaki]

10. Which usually means PO Box prices go up as well.

Maybe box holders could get a discount?