USPS set to add one cent to First Class stamp price
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has announced its proposed price changes for 2018, which include raising the cost of the First-Class Mail Forever stamp from 49 cents to 50 cents. USPS filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) on Friday (6 October) and, if approved, the price changes will take effect from 21 January next year.
Postcard stamps and metered letters would also have a one cent increase, but there are no proposed price changes for single-piece letters being mailed to international destinations or for additional ounces for letters.
The proposed prices would raise Mailing Services product prices approximately 1.9%, and most Shipping Services products will average a 3.9%.
In a statement sent to Post&Parcel, USPS said the proposed Mailing Services price changes include:
| Product | Current | Proposed |
| Letters (1 oz.) | 49 cents | 50 cents |
| Letters additional ounces | 21 cents | 21 cents |
| Letters (metered) | 46 cents | 47 cents |
| Outbound International Letters (1 oz.) | $1.15 | $1.15 |
| Domestic Postcards | 34 cents | 35 cents |
The new Shipping Services product prices would increase Priority Mail 3.9% and Priority Mail Retail an average of 0.8%. USPS said it will not include any surcharges for fuel, residential delivery, or regular Saturday delivery.
The proposed domestic Priority Mail Flat Rate Retail price changes are:
| Product | Current | Proposed |
| Small Flat Rate Box | $7.15 | $7.20 |
| Medium Flat Rate Box | $13.60 | $13.65 |
| Large Flat Rate Box | $18.85 | $18.90 |
| APO/FPO Large Flat Rate Box | $17.35 | $17.40 |
| Regular Flat Rate Envelope | $6.65 | $6.70 |
| Legal Flat Rate Envelope | $6.95 | $7.00 |
| Padded Flat Rate Envelope | $7.20 | $7.25 |
The PRC will review the prices before they are scheduled to take effect. The complete Postal Service price filings with the new prices for all products can be found on the PRC site under the Daily Listings section at https://www.prc.gov/dockets/daily.
