July 2026 Price Increase Info

The U.S. Postal Service today filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) of mailing services price changes to take effect on July 12. The new rates include a 4-cent increase in the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp from 78 cents to 82 cents.

The proposed adjustments, approved by the governors of the Postal Service, would raise mailing services product prices approximately 4.8 percent. If favorably reviewed by the Commission, the price changes would include:

The additional-ounce price for single-piece letters will remain at 29 cents. The Postal Service is also seeking price adjustments for other First-Class Mail products, Periodicals, USPS Marketing Mail, Package Services and selected Special Services products.

In the midst of the severe financial crisis facing the Postal Service and continued rising operational costs, the Postal Service is using all available tools, including available regulatory pricing authority, to ensure we can continue to fulfill our universal service obligation and serve the American public. The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

The PRC will review the changes before they are scheduled to take effect. The complete Postal Service price filing, with prices for all products, can be found on the commission’s website under the Daily Listings section. The Mailing Services filing is Docket No. R2026-1. The price tables are also available on the Postal Service’s Postal Explorer website at pe.usps.com/PriceChange/Index.

According to the filing, the Postal Service will allow mailers to combine Presorted Letters and Postcards to satisfy the 500-piece minimum volume requirement. Currently, in order to mail presorted letters and postcards, there is a separate 500-piece minimum for each.

Other changes include:

— The Postal Service will be adding a fee of $0.25 for Marketing Mail parcels that do not meet certain preparation standards. The fee will be assessed when a mailpiece does not meet the requirements for using Intelligent Mail package barcodes (IMpb). Specifically, mailers will have to ensure the address, manifest, and barcode passes critical validation criteria.

— The Postal Service is eliminating mail preparation of bundles in tubs of Marketing Mail flats and will be requiring a 50-piece minimum for the tubs to ensure efficient utilization of containers. This change mirrors the improvement the Postal Service implemented for First-Class Mail Flats in last year’s rate case.

— The Postal Service is increasing the Marriage Mail incentive discount from 10 to 20 percent. All other terms for eligibility and
administration of the incentive will remain unchanged. The Marriage Mail 2 oz. Incentive is available to any mailer at any time and does not benefit only a single mailer.

What's Going On?

What’s Going On?

What’s going on with the United States Postal Service? What’s going on with Congressional action to bring changes? What’s going on with new technologies impacting our industry? What’s going on with changes in what print and mail organizations are doing for their customers?

In this class, we’ll discuss what the USPS leadership has announced, the state of the legislative process, as well as trends and technologies impacting the industry.

Date: Thursday 5/14/26 -- 2 pm to 3 pm.

Registration link: https://usps.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_HBKTHL26SVqcnluLNtR2PA

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Mark Fallon is a dynamic speaker who shares insights gained from a career that spans from a part-time job as a mail clerk, to an officer in the United States Army, from a corporate executive to a successful entrepreneur. As President & CEO of The Berkshire Company (www.berkshirecompany.com), Mark helps his clients develop solutions using emerging technologies and expert leadership.

 Mark engages his audiences with enthusiasm and sincerity. He is able to share his personal successes and failures to help audiences learn methods to improve themselves and their teams.

 Mark serves on the Postmaster General’s Mailer’s Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC), and is also a board member of the Association for Postal Commerce (PostCom). In the past, he was on the US Postal Inspector’s Industry Task Force for Mailroom Security (2001-2002) and the USPS PCC Advisory Committee (2019-2022). 

 In addition to his own blog Trends in Print and Mail, Mark is a contributor to Mailing Systems Technology and the In-Plant Printing and Mailing Association (IPMA). Mark is the author of the eBooks: 110 Tips to Improve Print and Mail Management and It Begins with the Address.

 Mark received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Suffolk University in Boston. He has completed the MIT Sloan Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy Program

USPS July 2026 Pricing Release Overview: an interesting Summary

We took this 20 page document and ran it through CHATGPT..... and here are the summary results for your enjoyment...

From this file --> July 12, 2026 Proposed July 2026 Changes VERSION 2.0 

and click here for the results......  RESULTS SUMMARY

NEW POSTAGE RATE CHARTS EFFECTIVE APRIL 26, 2026

The new postage rate charts reflecting the April 26 increases have been released. Click for U.S. Postage Rates effective April 26, 2026

The planned price change is an 8 percent increase that would affect base postage prices on the following retail and commercial domestic competitive products: Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage, and Parcel Select. No other products or services would be affected, including First-Class Stamps. Pending favorable review by the PRC, the price change would go into effect at midnight Central Time on April 26 and would remain in place until midnight Central Time on Jan. 17, 2027. At that time, the Postal Service can determine if a different long-term approach is needed.

Cape May County's premier business networking event

SAVE THE DATE: April 22, 2026 | 4:00 - 7:00 PM

The Expo is free and open to all businesses!

Join us to explore solutions for your business needs while reconnecting with valuable contacts. Don’t forget to register for the Expo Keynote Session-everyone is welcome to attend both the Expo and the keynote.

As Cape May County's premier business networking event, the Expo offers an excellent opportunity to connect with potential customers and discover the latest products and services to support your business. Renowned for its quality attendance and collaborative environment, this is an event you won't want to miss!

WHEN AND WHERE WILL THE EXPO TAKE PLACE?  
Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Wildwoods Convention Center

Keynote Session: 3:00 p.m.

Expo Floor: 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Free to Attend

KEYNOTE SESSION 2026:

BRIAN TIERNEY,
CEO, BRIAN COMMUNICATIONS
COURAGEOUS STORYTELLING:
THE NARRATIVE THAT DRIVES BUSINESS GROWTH
Expo Keynote Speaker Brian Tierney is a serial entrepreneur and communications expert who has founded multiple award-winning agencies and served as CEO and publisher of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News. Known for helping organizations navigate change, crisis, and growth, Brian will share insights from his career advising some of the world’s top companies and discuss how leaders can turn challenges into opportunities.

https://www.capemaycountychamber.com/