Sending a Package? USPS Just Raised Prices by 8%
People sending packages through the US Postal Service will pay more starting this week, as the agency temporarily raises shipping rates amid rising fuel costs.
The USPS announced Wednesday, March 26, that it will increase the cost of shipping packages by 8% for a limited time to “better align its shipping costs with the market,” according to a news release.
The extension applies to the following products:
- Priority Mail Express
- Important Mail
- USPS Ground Advantage
- Package Select
First class postage stamps and other USPS products are not affected. The price changes came into effect at midnight on Thursday, March 26.
Gas Prices Are Rising
The USPS price changes come as oil, gasoline and diesel prices have risen since the United States and Israel began attacking Iran.
As of Tuesday, March 24, the national average gas price was $3.98 a gallon, up 10 cents a week and nearly a dollar more than last month, according to AAA.
Will USPS Go Out of Money?
The USPS has warned that it could run out of money by 2027 without action from Congress.
Postmaster General David Steiner, who takes office in July 2025, told Reuters and The Associated Press earlier this month that the agency could struggle to pay vendors and workers if Congress does not lift its $15 billion statutory debt limit.
“We’re going to run out of money in 12 months if we don’t do something different,” Steiner told Reuters.
USPS Arguments for Raising Stamp Prices
Steiner told lawmakers on March 17 that the price of a first-class stamp could increase by 12 to 17 cents, potentially raising the cost from 78 cents to between 90 and 95 cents per stamp. He said the increase would “significantly offset our manageable losses.”
No stamp increases are allowed, and customers can still purchase a sheet of 20 stamps for $15.60 at USPS locations and online.
Trump Moves to Revamp USPS
Last year, President Donald Trump said he was considering merging the USPS, which is currently an independent agency, into the Commerce Department, according to a previous report by USA TODAY. The center will be under the authority of the executive branch.
“We want to have a post office that works well and doesn’t lose a lot of money. And we’re thinking about doing that,” Trump said at the time.
Millions Trust USPS
The US Postal Service delivers mail and packages to millions of addresses across the country, including rural areas that private carriers often don’t serve, according to the US Postal Service. By law, the USPS is required to provide “universal mail service,” meaning delivery to every address in the country six days a week − a mandate the GAO says is too expensive.
The USPS also plays an important role in public life and elections. A 2020 study found that the agency delivered about 1.2 billion orders in 2019, a vital service to communities that rely solely on USPS. During the 2024 election cycle, the USPS processed more than 99 million ballots, according to a USPS news release.
President Trump voted by mail in Florida’s 2026 special election, according to a USA TODAY report, despite calling mail-in voting “corrupt” and saying without evidence that it leads to widespread voter fraud. Voting rights advocates warn that such claims could undermine public confidence in the postal service.
Contributors: America TODAY’s Fernando Cervantes, Kinsey Crowley and Trevor Hughes; Reuters
Julia Gomez is USA TODAY’s trending reporter and covers popular toys, science studies, natural disasters, holidays, and breaking news. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at [email protected].
This article first appeared in USA TODAY: Sending a package? USPS just increased prices by 8%
Reporting by Julia Gomez and Michelle Del Rey, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
