The price of stamps to go up (again) in July. Here’s how much you’ll pay

The U.S. Postal Service is moving forward with another round of price hikes on stamps and postage that will impact mailing costs in North Carolina and nationwide. Starting this month, first-class Forever stamps will jump from 78 cents to 82 cents.

FULL STORY: USPS could raise stamp prices — again. Here’s when it could take effect in NC

Here are key takeaways:

• The price hike: USPS is raising Forever stamp prices by 4 cents, from 78 cents to 82 cents, with overall mailing costs jumping 4.8%. The Postal Regulatory Commission approved the changes.
• When it begins: The new rates take effect on Sunday, July 12.
• Why USPS says it’s needed: Agency officials cited a “severe financial crisis” and rising operational costs. Postmaster General David Steiner recently warned lawmakers that USPS could run out of money within the next year and may be forced to stop deliveries, NPR reported.
• Part of a pattern: This follows a series of proposed hikes, including a March proposal for an 8% surcharge on some shipping services tied to fuel costs from the conflict in Iran. USPS previously outlined five Forever stamp increases rolling out through December 2027.
• Historical context: Stamp prices first jumped a nickel in July 2024, from 68 cents to 73 cents, the largest single increase in USPS history. The latest adjustments could mark a 50% increase from 2007, when Forever stamps debuted at 41 cents.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.