USPS Moves Forward With Significant Price Increase for Mail

Next time you go to the post office to send a package, you'll likely find that prices are higher as the United States Postal Service (USPS) is officially moving forward with price increases this week.

USPS announced these price changes, but the new prices will officially go into effect this week, as priority mail, priority mail express service, ground advantage, and parcel select are all seeing price increases of more than 5 percent.

Price Changes Hit This Week

Beginning on Jan. 18, prices will be increasing in several categories, all of which are seeing a price increase of more than 5 percent.

• Priority Mail: 6.6 percent price increase
• Priority Main Express: 5.1 percent increase
• Ground Advantage: 7.8 percent increase
• Parcel Select: 6 percent

It's worth noting, however, that first-class mail stamps will remain at $0.78 after increasing from $0.73 back in July.

“As part of the Postal Service’s network modernization and transformation plan, these proposed changes will support creation of a revitalized organization capable of achieving its public service mission — providing a nationwide, integrated network for the delivery of mail and packages at least six days a week — in a cost-effective and financially sustainable manner over the long term, just as the U.S. Congress has intended,” the USPS said in a news release via Newsweek.

Why Prices Are Increasing

This news might come as a surprise to some after Postmaster General David Steiner announced back in September that the USPS would not raise prices for "market-dominant products" in January.

“We continually strive to balance our pricing approach both to meet the revenue needs of the Postal Service and to deliver affordable offerings that reflect market conditions,” Steiner said back in September. “We have therefore decided at this time to forgo a price change for First-Class Mail postage and other Market Dominant services until mid-year 2026.”

However, stamps – which USPS calls "first-class mail postage" – are priced differently from its shipping services.

While both prices are typically adjusted in either January or July, stamp prices are adjusted based on inflation, while shipping services depend on market conditions. Market shipping conditions have changed, leading to the change, while stamps will not see a price increase until July, at the earliest.