In 2020, the United States Postal Service (USPS) increased the price of its First-Class Mail single piece stamp from $0.50 to $0.55. This change took effect on January 26. The rate increase was the first stamp price change since January 2019, when the cost of First-Class Mail stamp rose from $0.49 to $0.50.

The USPS said the higher stamp price reflects the cost of keeping the Postal Service operating and providing services during the pandemic. The increased cost is necessary to pay for higher labor and operational expenses, such as providing protective equipment for their employees, as well as for other services like free package pickup and package volume expansion. The price change also takes into effect the current Consumer Price Index and the recently enacted bipartisan appropriations.

With the rise in stamp cost, many people are now turning to other options for mailing their items. Some people have started to use digital services like Amazon for their mailing needs. Other individuals might prefer to go to the Post Office directly, as the price of flat-rate boxes and envelopes has not changed and could be cheaper over a single stamp.

The U.S. customers are still paying less than the international stamp cost. For instance, the first-class international stamp price to Canada is currently $1.20.

For those who need to mail their mailings with stamps, it's important to know that the 2020 USPS stamp prices are currently in effect. Even if you purchased stamps before the price increase when they were still 0.50 dollars, you will still be paying 0.55 dollars on all new stamps purchased as of January 26.

The current USPS stamp cost is expected to remain the same until January 2022, when the USPS is likely to review and revise the stamp prices. So it’s a good idea to stock up on stamps now, and you can save yourself the extra cost later.

Overall, the new stamp cost does mean added costs for customers sending their first-class mail. However, for those who prefer their mail to be sent with a stamp, the cost is still relatively small compared to other services out there. The price increase is also necessary for the USPS that has been hard hit by the pandemic and other events, as it helps them fund their operations and services.