The United States Postal Service is expected to raise the price of first-class mail next year, following the end of the holiday mailing season. If approved, the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp will increase by two cents to 49 cents, the price of a Forever stamp before the Postal Service was forced to reduce prices by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) as part of the exigent surcharge removal.

The last time stamp prices increased was in January 2014. The price change filing does not include any price change for postcards, for letters being mailed to international destinations or for additional ounces for letters. Stamp prices have stayed consistent with the average annual rate of inflation since the Postal Service was formed in 1971.

Pricing for standard mail, periodicals, package services and extra services will also be adjusted next year and can be found at www.prc.gov. The PRC will review the prices before they are scheduled to become effective on January 22, 2017. The filing does not affect Postal Service shipping products and services.