US Postal Service Raises Postage Rates to Reduce Financial Losses
美國郵政局調漲郵資以減少財務損失
Introduction
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has introduced several price increases for its mailing services, starting this Sunday, to deal with ongoing financial problems.
美國郵政局（USPS）將從本週日開始，對其郵寄服務採取數次漲價，以解決持續的財務問題。
Main Body
The most significant change is the First-Class Forever stamp, which has risen from 78 cents to 82 cents. This is the sixth price increase in five years, meaning costs have gone up by 34% since 2021. Other changes include domestic postcards rising to 65 cents and international mail increasing to $1.75. Furthermore, the agency has added a $7.50 fee for handling hazardous materials in Priority Mail, as well as a $50 fine for incorrect labeling of such materials.
最顯著的變動是「一等永久郵票」（First-Class Forever stamp），價格從 78 美分漲至 82 美分。這是五年內的第六次漲價，意味著成本自 2021 年以來已增加 34%。其他變動包括國內明信片漲至 65 美分，國際郵件漲至 1.75 美元。此外，該機構針對 Priority Mail 處理危險物質增收 7.50 美元的費用，而標記錯誤的危險物質將被處以 50 美元的罰款。
These changes are necessary because the cost of running the service is much higher than the money it earns. The Postal Regulatory Commission reported that for the 2025 fiscal year, costs increased by $1.8 billion, while revenue only grew by $1 billion. This problem is made worse by a 3.7% drop in the amount of mail sent last year. Consequently, the USPS reported a $9 billion loss. Postmaster General David Steiner emphasized that the agency could face a serious cash shortage within a year, suggesting that stamps might need to reach 95 cents to stabilize the budget.
這些變動十分必要，因為營運成本遠高於收入。郵政監管委員會報告指出，2025 財政年度成本增加了 18 億美元，而收入僅增長 10 億美元。去年郵件量下降 3.7% 使得問題更加惡化。因此，USPS 報告了 90 億美元的虧損。郵政局長 David Steiner 強調，該機構可能在一年內面臨嚴重的現金短缺，暗示郵票價格可能需要達到 95 美分才能穩定預算。
Meanwhile, the organization's performance has been criticized by the government. Some members of Congress have pointed to delivery failures, leading to official investigations into service disruptions in certain regions. Despite these issues, the USPS asserts that its prices remain competitive worldwide and that these increases are essential to keep the mail service running for everyone.
與此同時，該組織的表現受到了政府的批評。部分國會議員指出了投遞失敗的問題，導致官方對某些地區的服務中斷展開調查。儘管存在這些問題，USPS 堅稱其價格在全球範圍內仍具競爭力，且此次漲價對於維持全民郵政服務至關重要。
Conclusion
The USPS has raised postage rates and added new fees to fight significant financial losses and a decline in mail volume.
USPS 透過調漲郵資並增加新費用，以應對嚴重的財務損失及郵件量下降。
Vocabulary Learning
⚡ The 'B2 Leap': Moving from Simple Facts to Logical Connections
At an A2 level, you tell me what happened: "The price went up. The USPS lost money." To reach B2, you must explain why and how these things are connected using Transition Markers.
Look at these three "Power Connectors" from the text that turn basic sentences into professional analysis:
1. "Furthermore" (The Addition Booster)
- A2 style: "The price is 82 cents. There is a fee for hazardous materials."
- B2 style: "The price is 82 cents; furthermore, the agency has added a fee for hazardous materials."
- Coach's Tip: Use this when you want to add a second, more important point to your argument.
2. "Consequently" (The Result Trigger)
- A2 style: "Less mail was sent. The USPS lost $9 billion."
- B2 style: "There was a drop in the amount of mail sent; consequently, the USPS reported a $9 billion loss."
- Coach's Tip: This replaces "so." It sounds more academic and shows you understand cause-and-effect.
3. "Despite" (The Contrast Pivot)
- A2 style: "There are delivery failures. The USPS says prices are competitive."
- B2 style: "Despite these issues, the USPS asserts that its prices remain competitive."
- Coach's Tip: This is a high-value B2 structure. It allows you to acknowledge a problem but keep the focus on a different fact.
🚀 Pro-Tip for your Vocabulary Expansion Stop using "said" for everything. Notice how the text uses "emphasized" and "asserts."
- Emphasized = Said it with strong importance.
- Asserts = Said it with confidence/certainty.
Switching these verbs is the fastest way to make your English sound 'Advanced' rather than 'Basic'.