Sending a package? USPS might raise prices by 8%
Corrections & Clarifications: An earlier version of this story misstated when the USPS will increase prices on mailing packages. The correct date is April 26, 2026.
People mailing packages through the U.S. Postal Service could pay more starting in April because the agency may temporarily raise shipping rates.
The Postal Service announced March 25 that it would increase the cost of shipping packages by 8% for a limited time to “better align its costs of transportation with the market,” according to a news release.
The increase applies to the following products:
- Priority Mail Express
- Priority Mail
- USPS Ground Advantage
- Parcel Select
First‑class mail stamps and other Postal Service products are not affected. The price changes could take effect at midnight Thursday, April 26, pending approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission. The price increase would last until Jan. 17, 2027.
Why is USPS raising prices?
The costs of transportation have increased, and the temporary increase would "will support the Postal Service’s ability to continue achieving its public service mission − providing a nationwide, integrated network for the delivery of mail and packages at least six days a week − in a cost-effective and financially sustainable manner over the long term, just as the U.S. Congress has intended," the Postal Service said in its news release.
Though increases in fuel prices can contribute to rising transportation costs, other factors, such as vehicle and transportation maintenance, higher insurance costs and changing market conditions in logistics, shipping and trucking also have contributed to the proposed increase, the Postal Service said.
Gas prices on the rise
The possible change in pricing comes as oil, gasoline and diesel prices have shot up since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran.
As of Tuesday, March 24, the national average price for gasoline was $3.98 a gallon, up 10 cents in a week and nearly $1 higher than a month earlier, according to AAA.
Will the Postal Service run out of money?
The Postal Service has warned it could run out of cash by 2027 without congressional action.
Postmaster General David Steiner, who took office in July 2025, told Reuters and The Associated Press earlier in March that the agency could struggle to pay vendors and employees if Congress does not lift its $15 billion statutory debt limit.
“We are out of cash in 12 months if we don’t do anything different,” Steiner told Reuters.
Postal Service debates raising prices of stamps
Steiner told lawmakers March 17 that the price of a first‑class stamp could increase by 12 to 17 cents, possibly raising the cost from 78 cents to 90 to 95 cents a stamp. He said the increase “would largely solve our controllable loss.”
No stamp increase has been approved, and customers can still buy a sheet of 20 stamps for $15.60 at Postal Service locations and online.
Trump has pushed to revamp agency
Last year, President Donald Trump said he was considering merging the Postal Service, now an independent agency, into the Commerce Department, according to USA TODAY reporting. The agency would then be under the executive branch's authority.
"We want to have a post office that works well and doesn't lose massive amounts of money. And we're thinking about doing that," Trump said at the time.
Millions rely on USPS
The Postal Service delivers mail and packages to millions of addresses nationwide, including rural areas that private carriers often do not serve, according to the Government Accountability Office. By law, the Postal Service is required to provide “universal postal service,” meaning delivery to every address in the country six days a week − a mandate the GAO says is costly.
The Postal Service also plays a key role in public health and elections. A 2020 study found the agency delivered about 1.2 billion medication prescriptions in 2019, an essential service for communities that rely solely on the Postal Service. During the 2024 election cycle, the agency processed more than 99 million ballots, according to a Postal Service news release.
Trump voted by mail in a 2026 Florida special election, according to USA TODAY reporting, despite having called mail‑in voting “corrupt” and claiming it leads to widespread voter fraud. Voting rights advocates warn such claims could undermine public confidence in the Postal Service.
Contributing: Fernando Cervantes, Kinsey Crowley and Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY; ReutersThis story has been updated with new information.
Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers popular toys, scientific studies, natural disasters, holidays, and trending news. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at [email protected].