Mailing a birthday card, paying a bill by mail, or shipping a package costs more than it did at the beginning of the year, and bigger changes could eventually be ahead. The U.S. Postal Service raised several prices in 2026 as it continues confronting substantial financial pressure, declining First-Class Mail volume, and the enormous cost of maintaining nationwide service. Most notably for everyday customers, a First-Class Mail Forever stamp increased from 78 cents to 82 cents on July 12. Now Postmaster General David Steiner is warning that without action from Congress, USPS may eventually have to consider service reductions and closing thousands of unprofitable post offices.
No nationwide list of thousands of post offices slated for closure has been announced. Instead, Postmaster General David Steiner warned that without congressional action to address USPS’s finances, closing thousands of money-losing locations, reducing service levels, and raising prices could become necessary. Here’s what consumers need to know about USPS changes in 2026 and what has actually happened versus what remains a possibility.
