These days, it's hard to live without talking about rising prices.

You can feel it when you go grocery shopping, when you eat out, and just looking at rent or insurance costs makes you sigh.

Now, with USPS planning to raise the price of the Forever Stamp from 78 cents to 95 cents, it feels like we're entering an era where a single stamp costs a dollar.

Considering that stamps were 50 cents in 2019, they've nearly doubled in just a few years.

This increase is particularly significant. It's not just a few cents like before; it feels like a sudden jump, making the impact even stronger.

Looking at why they are raising prices so much, the situation for USPS is quite serious. They recorded a $9 billion deficit in 2025, and their cumulative losses have exceeded $100 billion since 2007.

Moreover, the number of people sending letters is decreasing.

These days, even important documents are often handled via email, so from USPS's perspective, revenue is declining while maintenance costs remain the same.

Of course, USPS claims, "American stamps are still cheap."

In France, stamps are nearly $3, and in the UK, they are about $2.50, so compared to those, the logic is that they are still affordable.

Given that the U.S. is large and delivery distances are much longer, they argue that this price is reasonable.

That's not incorrect. However, from a consumer's standpoint, the fact that prices keep rising feels more significant than such comparisons.

Especially this increase feels like more than just a simple adjustment; it seems like a shift in trend.

USPS also plans to regularly raise prices until 2027, so this may not be the end but rather the beginning.

So, while 95 cents may seem expensive now, a few years down the line, people might say, "That was cheap back then."

If you frequently use stamps, buying Forever Stamps in advance might not be a bad idea.

Once you buy a Forever Stamp, you can use it without additional costs even if prices go up, so when there's a significant increase like this, it effectively acts as a pre-discount.

Living in LA, these small differences can add up and feel quite substantial.

A few stamps may not seem like a big deal, but for those who use them regularly or for businesses, the cost difference is definitely noticeable.

This is especially true for industries that still rely heavily on bills, contracts, and various mailings.

In our office alone, the cost of using Forever Stamps for various purposes amounts to about $200 - $300 a year.

Ultimately, this isn't just a matter of stamp prices; it's a change that should be viewed in the context of overall price trends. In an era where nothing seems to be staying the same, it feels like "preparing before prices rise" has become a strategy.

Stamps are no longer just something you buy when you need them; they are becoming items you buy based on timing.