USPS Seeks 8% Rate Hike Amid Fuel Surge

0:00It's March 28th. This is Durham News today. Local news powered by AI. Gas prices in 2026 are hitting near record highs, mostly because of ongoing tensions and war in the Middle East, messing with key oil. Shipping routes. That spike is slamming fuel costs everywhere, and now it's hitting your wallet through higher shipping fees. Major carriers like FedEx, UPS, and DHL already jacked up prices with fuel surcharges and demand fees, especially on routes to the Middle East and beyond. Fuel makes up to 40% of their operating costs, so these hikes are passing the pain straight to customers. The U.S. Postal Service, usually the cheapest option, is filling the squeeze to amid falling male volumes and rising expenses. Their first quarter revenue dropped 1.2%. Controllable income tanked by $618 million, and they posted a bigger net loss. On March 25th, U.S. P.S. asked the Postal Regulatory Commission for an 8% temporary price

1:00bump on services like Priority Mail, Ground, Advantage, and Parcel Select. If approved, it kicks in April 26th, 2026 through January 17th, 2027 to cover those fuel hits without going broke. Postmaster General David Steiner warned Congress they're on track to run out of cash in under 12 months without more borrowing power or relief. Even with this move, U.S. P.S. rates stay lower than rivals, but frequent hikes could chase away more volume and deepen the financial whole.