Direct Mail Consultants Brace for Postage Rate Hike

Direct mail just got a little more expensive.

The U.S. Postal Service increased rates  for all first-class mail on Sunday as part of an ongoing effort to bolster its finances amid lingering challenges. Under the new pricing structure, the cost of Forever stamps will rise from 73 cents to 78 cents; metered letters will go up to 74 cents from 69 cents; and postcards will increase to 62 cents from 56 cents.

At first glance, the price hikes may seem insignificant. But for Forever stamps alone, the hike represents a 6.8 percent increase. For postcards, the new price is nearly 11 percent higher than before.

Despite the growing focus among political professionals on digital, direct mail remains a staple of campaigning. A post-2024 white paper  from USPS and the American Association of Political Consultants found that 84 percent of voters reported receiving direct mail during the last election cycle.