USPS Reveals Rate Increase Plans: Customers in Texas and Louisiana Stunned

(KMDL-FM) I think I am going into my third or, is it my fourth, decade of "the post office is about to go under" speculation. Still, after all the doom and gloom and constant threats from Presidents and members of Congress, the United States Postal Service soldiers on.

I recall that when I was a kid, we were told that the letter carriers were the human equivalent of superheroes. They trudged through the worst conditions to make sure that I knew what was on sale at Rouses and which one of my neighbors was now "buying houses" in any condition. Of course, in my neighborhood, they rode in cute little Jeeps, but I guess that was trudging back in the day.

Get our free mobile app

READ MORE: Paw Sticker on a Mailbox? What Does That Really Mean?

READ MORE: Postal Officials Warn - Never Mail a Check on This Day

I guess the point I am making is this. We never seem to hear about the United States Postal Service unless there is bad news to report. Well, this time I am here to report on a rate increase. And before you get mad and do the one thing that every postal employee hates, "shooting the messenger", hear me out.

When Was The Last Postal Service Rate Increase?

It certainly seems as though for the past several years we've reported to you, the postal patrons of Louisiana and Texas, that the cost of mailing stuff was going to cost you more. Everything from the price of stamps to the kind of delivery to the speed of delivery, there seems to have been a price increase not once, but twice a year.

In fact, we reported on a postal rate increase a little over a month ago, with the new, higher rates scheduled to begin just about the time you are gathering your packages for holiday delivery. I, like you, have no problem with someone covering their costs to stay in business, but raising rates every six months is getting difficult for even the most loyal postal patron to endure.

U.S. Postmaster General Stuns Customers With Postal Rate Announcement

Maybe that's why the United States Postal Service has just revealed this nugget of news for 2026. According to Postmaster General David Steiner, " We have therefore decided at this time to forgo a price change for First-Class Mail postage and other Market Dominant services until mid-year 2026."

That sounds like he is saying the prices for stamps and many other services won't go up at all during 2026. And, we checked, that's exactly what Postmaster Steiner is saying. You will be getting a reprieve from higher shipping costs, at least via USPS.

The cost of Forever Stamps recently jumped from .73 cents to .78 cents in July, but those prices will hold steady through 2026. You might also recall that postcard prices and the cost for sending metered mail jumped up a nickel in July as well.

How Often Does The Post Office Raise Prices on Stamps and Shipping?

Now, if you think I am dreaming when I tell you the rate increases at the "Post Office" have been fast and furious over the past five years, check this statistic out. Over the past five years, first-class mail and marketing mail prices have risen more than 50%, while periodical prices have grown by 67%.

Those observations were corroborated and confirmed by FreightWaves, a website that tracks trends and changes in the shipping industry. As always, we encourage you to shop local and ship early, especially if you are sharing Christmas cheer with our men and women who are serving in the U.S. Military around the globe.