USPS proposes first-ever 8% transportation surcharge on Priority Mail and Ground Advantage packages

The U.S. Postal Service has proposed an 8% surcharge on base postage prices for Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage, and Parcel Select, citing rising transportation costs, with the temporary charge set to run from April 26 through January 17, 2027, pending review by the Postal Regulatory Commission. USPS noted the surcharge is less than a third of what competitors charge for fuel alone, and said it may adopt a permanent pricing mechanism to reflect market conditions going forward. The proposal marks the first fuel surcharge in USPS history, as FedEx and UPS have long imposed fuel surcharges that currently amount to as much as 26% of overall shipping costs during peak weeks.