USPS seeks temporary 8% fuel-related charge for Priority Mail from April 26

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The U.S. Postal Service has filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission seeking a temporary 8% charge on certain shipping products, aiming to offset rising transportation costs, the agency said. In the request, USPS tied the change to the need to cover the actual costs of operating, as letter-volume declines continue to squeeze finances, according to the filing and accompanying statements.

USPS submitted the notice Wednesday to the Postal Regulatory Commission, asking for the price change to begin April 26. The Postal Service said the proposed increase would remain in place until Jan. 17, 2027, subject to the commission’s final approval.

In its filing, USPS said the “temporary price adjustment” would provide what it described as needed flexibility for the agency by helping ensure costs of doing business are covered as Congress requires. The Postal Service also said competitors have responded to rising fuel prices by using “a number of surcharges.”

USPS said it has “steadfastly avoided surcharges” and argued that the requested charge is less than one-third of what competitors charge for fuel alone. The Postal Service presented the adjustment as a departure from adding a surcharge, instead seeking a rate change through the regulatory process.

If approved, the increase would apply to Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage and Parcel Select. USPS said no other products or services would be affected, including First-Class Stamps, according to the agency’s statement.

The regulator filing adds to pressure on lawmakers as Postmaster General David Steiner has warned Congress that USPS will run out of cash within a year unless lawmakers lift what he described as a decades-old cap on borrowing and allow the independent agency to borrow more money. Steiner has also backed other reforms, including seeking authority to raise postage prices high enough to cover losses, the Associated Press reported.

The Postal Regulatory Commission’s final decision would determine whether the temporary 8% increase takes effect on April 26 and continues through Jan. 17, 2027. Until then, USPS said the request is pending the commission’s approval.