WASHINGTON — The price of a first class U.S. Postage Stamp will go down on Sunday, April 10, 2016 from 49 to 47 cents. Postcard postage rates will also decrease from 35 to 34 cents.
Stamp prices increased from 46 cents to 49 cents in January 2014 after the Postal Regulatory Commission granted an surcharge on mailing products and services to help the U.S. Postal Service recover for the massive volume and revenue losses resulting from the Great Recession. That surcharge will now expire, resulting in the reduced postage prices.
The Postal Service estimates that it will lose approximately $2 billion in annual revenue resulting from the price reduction.
“Given our precarious financial condition and ongoing business needs, the price reduction required by the PRC exacerbates our losses,” said Megan J. Brennan, Postmaster General and CEO. “This unfortunate decision heightens the importance of the review of our ratemaking system which our regulator is required to conduct later this year.”
The surcharge removal means these First-Class Mail prices will be reduced to the following beginning April 10. Commercial prices will also be reduced.
| Current | April 10 |
| • Letters (1 oz.) | 49 cents | 47 cents |
| • Letters additional ounces | 22 cents | 21 cents |
| • Letters to all international destinations | $1.20 | $1.15 |
| • Postcards | 35 cents | 34 cents |
