To address its ongoing financial challenges, the United States Postal Service (USPS) is implementing a 5% overall rate hike effective July 12, which will increase the price of a First-Class Mail Forever Stamp by 4 cents (from 78 cents to 82 cents) and raise costs for postcards, international mail, and metered mail.

While this adjustment is lower than the 12-to-17-cent increase initially suggested during a March congressional hearing, postal officials emphasize that higher rates alone will not solve their financial issues, as the agency faces declining mail volumes and a severe cash shortage while continuing to serve 168 million delivery addresses.

Postmaster General David Steiner highlighted these budget constraints to lawmakers, noting that limited resources have forced difficult tradeoffs, including delaying the purchase of new delivery trucks.