Have you ever tried to send a traditional letter and been shocked by the price of a single stamp? You’re not alone. It may seem like something only a grumpy old man would complain about, but the economy isn’t exactly booming. However, there is good news: the United States Postal Service (USPS) has announced that it will freeze the price of some of its most commonly used postal services. For the first time in many years, the prices of stamps and other mailings will remain stable.
This renewal of the United States Postal Service comes from the new Postmaster General, David Steiner, who took office in July 2025. He brings his logistics experience to the postal service: he was CEO of Waste Management, so he has already dealt with transportation and routes in different locations.
However, the change in postal service prices is only the tip of the iceberg; the federal agency is undergoing a much larger and necessary transformation within itself. Times have changed, we no longer send the same type of mail, and therefore the United States Postal Service needs a radical change in its structure.
USPS Prices for 2025-2026
The USPS handles two types of services: the first category is called “Market Dominant.” These are the basic and essential services that the USPS has a public obligation to offer to all citizens. Ultimately, a government must ensure the delivery and receipt of mail within its territory. This category includes letters, First-Class Mail stamps, and postcards.
The second category is “Competitive.” These are parcel services, such as Priority Mail, Ground Advantage, or Express. In this type of service, the USPS competes directly with private giants such as FedEx and UPS.
The price freeze will apply to the “Market Dominant” category. The price of stamps or standard letters will not increase in January 2026, and prices will remain unchanged until the middle of next year. This is a change from the policy of frequent price increases that the USPS has been undergoing in recent years. According to the Postmaster General, USPS aims to “balance our pricing approach… and deliver affordable offerings that reflect market conditions.”
Both consumers who like to send letters and businesses that rely on bulk mail are breathing a sigh of relief… at least until next year.
Surcharge: Increase in some prices
While postage stamps for sending letters will remain at a stable price, the price of sending packages will be adjustable. In the coming months, there will be a temporary increase known as the “peak season surcharge.” This is because the massive shipment of packages during the holiday season causes operating costs to rise.
And it makes sense: if they kept the same price throughout the year, they would have to charge much more in the summer, for example, and take a loss during the Christmas holiday season. The temporary rates took effect on October 5, 2025, and will remain in effect until January 18, 2026. This includes services such as Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, USPS Ground Advantage, and Parcel Select.
If you need to send packages for Christmas, you can now check shipping prices on the official website of the United States Postal Service. Once the peak season is over, prices will return to standard rates.
The Great Restructuring: “Delivering for America”
The United States Postal Service is undergoing a major modernization effort to bring itself up to speed for the 21st century. This ten-year plan is called Delivering for America, and it was launched in 2021. It is an urgent and ambitious attempt to financially rescue the agency, which has been operating at a loss for years.
It simply seeks to achieve financial stability that will allow it to operate without the need for continuous federal bailouts. Although the plan is very detailed, it seeks to save at least US$36 billion in costs by optimizing transportation and real estate. The money saved is being reinvested in modernizing the logistics network to handle the new reality: people no longer send letters and postcards, but packages.