The Digester
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USPS to add 8% fuel surcharge on packages

The United States Postal Service will add an 8% fuel surcharge to major package services from 26 April through 17 January 2027 to offset rising energy costs, the agency said.

Mar 25th 2026 ยท United States

Insights

  • An 8% fuel surcharge will apply to Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage and Parcel Select from 26 April to 17 January 2027.
  • The Postal Service said this is its first-ever fuel surcharge and is less than one-third of competitors' fuel-only surcharges.
  • Crude oil prices have risen as much as 40% since early 2026 after a US and Israeli attack on Iran on 28 February, and US diesel averaged $5.37 per gallon, up from $3.75 a month earlier.
  • Democratic officials including Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Senator Raphael Warnock publicly criticized the surcharge and linked it to higher costs under President Trump.
  • Postmaster General David Steiner warned the USPS could run out of funds within a year unless Congress changes the agency's borrowing rules.

Sources