(LOOTPRESS) – Americans may soon see the cost of mailing a letter climb to nearly $1, as the U.S. Postal Service considers a major price hike to stay financially afloat.
Postmaster General David Steiner told lawmakers this week that first-class stamps could increase from the current 78 cents to as much as 90 to 95 cents. The proposed jump comes as the agency grapples with mounting losses and declining mail volume.
The United States Postal Service reported a staggering $9 billion loss in 2025, and Steiner warned Congress the situation is urgent. Without significant changes, he said, the Postal Service could run out of cash within the next year.
“We are at a critical juncture,” Steiner told the House Oversight Committee, emphasizing that raising prices is one of the few immediate options available to stabilize finances.
Despite previous reform efforts—including a 10-year plan launched under former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy—the agency’s financial struggles have persisted. Those reforms included multiple stamp price increases and operational changes aimed at cutting costs.
Steiner argued that even with the proposed increase, U.S. postage would remain among the cheapest in the developed world. He noted that countries like France and the United Kingdom charge significantly more for similar services, despite covering far smaller delivery areas.
Still, the potential price hike underscores the growing pressure on the Postal Service to adapt as traditional mail continues to decline. In addition to higher stamp prices, Steiner is pushing for broader reforms, including raising the agency’s borrowing limit and changing how its pension funds are invested.
For now, Americans could soon be paying more than ever just to send a simple letter.
