Next time you go to the post office to send a package, you might notice a price increase, as the United States Postal Service (USPS) is officially raising prices this week.
USPS announced these price adjustments, but the new prices will officially take effect this week, with price increases of more than 5% for Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express Service, Ground Advantage, and Package Select.
Price changes this week
Starting January 18, prices will increase across multiple categories, with all categories experiencing price increases of more than 5%.
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Priority Mail: Prices up 6.6%
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Priority major express delivery: up 5.1%
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Ground advantage: 7.8% growth
However, it is worth noting that first class stamps will remain at $0.78 after rising from $0.73 in July.
“As part of the Postal Service’s plan to modernize and transform its network, these proposed changes will support the creation of a revitalized organization capable of achieving its public service mission of providing a nationwide, integrated network that delivers mail and packages at least six days a week in a cost-effective and financially sustainable manner over the long term, as the United States Congress intended,” the Postal Service said in a Newsweek release.
why prices rise
The news may come as a surprise to some after Postmaster General David Steiner announced in September that the USPS would not be raising prices on “market-leading products” in January.
“We continually strive to balance our pricing approach to meet the Postal Service’s revenue needs while providing affordable products that reflect market conditions,” Steiner said in September. “As a result, we have decided at this time to forego price adjustments for First-Class Mail postage and other market-leading services until mid-2026.”
However, stamps (what the U.S. Postal Service calls “First Class Mail Rates”) are priced differently than their shipping services.
While both prices are typically adjusted in January or July, stamp prices are adjusted for inflation and shipping services are dependent on market conditions. Changes in market shipping conditions have led to this change, and stamps are not expected to see price increases until July at the earliest.
This article was originally published by Men’s Journal on January 19, 2026, and first appeared in the News section. Click here to add Men’s Diary as your go-to source.