According to the latest report, Amazon will increase the annual fee for Prime membership services in the United States from $119 four years ago to $139. Analysts said the price hikes were aimed at addressing the full spectrum of rising costs Amazon faces, from shipping to labor and construction.
The price adjustment will take effect for new members on February 18, and for existing members after March 25. The monthly fee for Prime membership has also increased from $12.99 per month to $14.99 per month. Amazon said the “continued expansion of Prime benefits, as well as higher wages and shipping costs,” was the reason for the increase in service prices.
Pricing for Prime in other countries is currently unchanged. On an investor call, Amazon said it considers pricing in other countries every year, but made no further announcements today. The last time Amazon raised Prime prices was in April 2018, citing higher costs for shipping and other perks. Before that, the annual price of the product had remained at $79 since its launch in 2005, rising to $99 in 2014.