WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Wednesday afternoon, the U.S. Postal Service announced that, in an effort to offset rising fuel costs, it will impose a first-of-its-kind surcharge on package deliveries. The 8 percent increase, approved by the USPS Board of Governors on Tuesday, will apply to Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage, and Parcel Select. First-class stamps and other mail services will not be affected.
The final step in the process is approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission. If granted, the surcharge would take effect April 26 and remain in place through January 17, 2027.
In its announcement, the Postal Service said, “This temporary price adjustment will provide needed flexibility for the Postal Service by helping to ensure that the actual costs of doing business are covered, as required by Congress,” adding that “Transportation costs have been increasing, and our competitors have reacted with a number of surcharges.”
Postal officials also emphasized that the surcharge remains modest compared to those imposed by private carriers. “We have steadfastly avoided surcharges and this charge is less than one-third of what our competitors charge for fuel alone, so even with this change, the Postal Service continues to offer great value in shipping with some of the lowest rates in the industrialized world.”
U.S. crude oil prices have surged more than 40 percent since the start of the war with Iran, pushing fuel costs higher across the country. Gas prices have climbed sharply in recent weeks, rising close to a dollar in some areas, as supply disruptions in the Middle East continue to ripple through global energy markets. Diesel prices have pushed above the $5 per gallon mark nationwide.
Those increases are placing added strain on delivery networks such as the Postal Service, which rely heavily on transportation and fuel to move packages efficiently.
The Postal Service is also seeking approval to increase the price of a first-class stamp to between 90 and 95 cents. The current cost of a first-class stamp is 78 cents.
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