Monday, July 14, 2025
USPS adjusts prices
The changes affect both mailing and shipping services
The Postal Service adjusted mailing and shipping prices on July 13.
The changes raised mailing service product prices approximately 7.4 percent. These price adjustments include:
• Letters (1 ounce): 73 cents (old), 78 cents (new)
• Letters (metered 1 ounce): 69 cents (old), 74 cents (new)
• Domestic postcards: 56 cents (old), 61 cents (new)
• International postcards: $1.65 (old), $1.70 (new)
• International letter (1 ounce): $1.65 (old), $1.70 (new)
Also, the additional-ounce price for single-piece letters increased from 28 cents to 29 cents, while the price of postal insurance when mailing an item decreased by 12 percent.
The July 13 changes raised domestic shipping service prices approximately 6.3 percent for Priority Mail service, 7.1 percent for USPS Ground Advantage and 7.6 percent for Parcel Select. Prices for Priority Mail Express service will not change.
Although mailing service price increases are based on the consumer price index, shipping service prices are primarily adjusted according to market conditions. The new rates will aim to keep the Postal Service competitive while providing the organization with needed revenue.
Heroes
He needed information, so he went to the library
This letter carrier checked out some extra help to find a customer
When Letter Carrier Mark Chetnik delivers mail in the village of Clinton, NY, he makes a point to chat regularly with an 82-year-old customer along the way.
The man, known as “Larry” among locals, likes to walk around nearby Kirkland.
“Everyone in the village knows Larry but Mark might know him better than anyone,” said Clinton Postmaster Justin Gray. “I truly believe he wakes up every day looking forward to his afternoon chat with Mark — ‘his mailman’ — and Mark delivers, no pun intended.”
Chetnik was recently at work when he realized he hadn’t seen Larry for two consecutive days and grew concerned because the man lives alone.
However, Chetnik didn’t have any contact information for Larry, so he turned to the Kirkland Town Library for help. The staff knew how to reach Larry’s childhood friend and contacted him.
The friend found Larry lying on the floor of his home, badly dehydrated and clinging to life.
Larry was treated in a nearby hospital and is recovering in a rehabilitation facility.
“If it weren’t for Mark, I’m afraid Larry may have laid there for days or longer — and there would have been a much more tragic outcome to this story,” Gray said.
Employees featured in “Heroes” receive letters of commendation through the Postmaster General Heroes’ Program. The nomination form is available on Blue.
Week in Review
Here’s what Link covered July 6-12
A new 250th-themed retail kit, price changes and a labor contract approval made news
Last week, Link told you about a special delivery coming to Post Offices around the country: A kit to help retail employees celebrate the organization’s 250th anniversary.
The Eagle in Flight anniversary graphic appears on most of the items in the kit, which includes a “Proudly Delivering for 250 Years” door decal listing holiday closures and a poster featuring the limited-edition 250th anniversary stamps among its offerings.
We also reported on the retirement of Scott Bombaugh as chief technology officer and the appointment of Gary Reblin to take over the role on an acting basis, and the ratification of a new American Postal Workers Union contract that will run through Sept. 20, 2027.
And in “Heroes,” Letter Carrier Mark Chetnik grew concerned when he didn’t see an older customer, “Larry,” out and about as usual during his deliveries in the village of Clinton, NY.
Chetnik didn’t have contact information for the 82-year-old, so he turned to the local library, which got in touch with Larry’s childhood friend. The friend found a badly dehydrated Larry lying on the floor of his home, clinging to life.
“If it weren’t for Mark, I’m afraid Larry may have laid there for days or longer — and there would have been a much more tragic outcome to this story,” said Clinton Postmaster Justin Gray.
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Mail
‘He goes out of his way’
More praise for ‘Off the Clock’ subject Dennis Ford Jr.
Email us your feedback. Your comments could be included in our “Mail” column.
Emails to stay in Outlook for three months
The Postal Service will reduce the amount of time emails are stored in Outlook on ACE computers from 12 months to three months.
The change will take effect in late July and requires no action from employees and contractors who use ACE computers.
ACE computer users will be able to access emails older than three months through their Outlook online archive mailbox. The USPS ServiceNow website has instructions.
Blog examines business shipping
The latest entry on Postal Posts, the USPS blog, looks at the Postal Service’s efforts to develop shipping products for businesses.
Juan Nadal, the organization’s strategic sales vice president, wrote the July 8 post.
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USPS adjusts prices
The changes affect both mailing and shipping services
-
Heroes
He needed information, so he went to the library
-
Week in Review
Here’s what Link covered July 6-12
A new 250th-themed retail kit, price changes and a labor contract approval made news
-
Mail
Featured reader quote
“Dennis Ford Jr., profiled recently in ‘Off the Clock,’ is truly phenomenal. He goes out of his way for his community, including local youth and his postal colleagues. I’m...”
— Beverly Thomas, Los Angeles
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Brief
Emails to stay in Outlook for three months
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Brief
Blog examines business shipping