How much does it cost to send out holiday cards? It’s more expensive than last year
Christmas cards seen in Orlando. (Credit: Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
If you’re planning to send out holiday cards or postcards this month, you may need to brace yourself for a holiday surprise in the form of higher postage costs.
Since last Christmas, the cost of First-Class Mail Forever stamps has increased twice from 66 cents to 68 cents to 73 cents. The price adjustments happened in January and July.
This means the 50 holiday cards that cost a person $30 during the 2023 holiday and $33.00 last year will now cost $36.50 to send out.
While the number may not look like a substantial difference, the price changes come as many Americans prepare for the upcoming holiday while continuing to be affected by increased costs on goods and services.
In a poll conducted in June 2024, a majority of middle-class Americans said they were "struggling financially" and expected that to continue for the rest of their lives.
Postal Service will not increase stamp prices in January 2025
Despite the increase, the Postal Service previously announced that it will not be raising prices this coming January for its mailing services, and subsequently, the price of a First-Class stamp will remain unchanged.
However, last month, the Postal Service filed a notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) for Shipping Services price changes to take effect January 19, 2025.
The change would raise shipping services prices approximately 3.2% for Priority Mail service and Priority Mail Express service, 3.9% for USPS Ground Advantage and 9.2% for Parcel Select.
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Although Mailing Services price increases are based on the consumer price index, Shipping Services prices are primarily adjusted according to market conditions.
"As changes in the mailing and shipping marketplace continue, these price adjustments are needed to achieve the financial stability sought by the organization’s Delivering for America 10-year plan. USPS prices remain among the most affordable in the world," USPS wrote in a press release earlier this year.
In November, the USPS reported a $9.5 billion net loss for fiscal year 2024 – and increase of $3 billion from the previous year.