The U.S. Post Office has proposed to increase the cost of first class stamps from 78 cents to 82 cents effective July 12. If approved, this would mean that the price of stamps would double since 2007. Proposed increases for other mail services products is 4.8%, including postcards. Mail volume has declined by nearly half in the last 19 years, from 213 to 112 billion pieces of mail annually. 

The cash flow crisis has become so severe that the Post Office also announced it was temporarily suspending employer contributions for pensions in order to make payroll, delivery the mail, and pay suppliers.