USPS may hike postage prices amid rising fuel costs. How much you’ll pay in NC
Sending a package in the mail could soon cost more, affecting millions of deliveries in North Carolina and nationwide.
Last week, the U.S. Postal Service announced plans to roll out “transportation-related” price hikes on certain postage in response to rising fuel costs caused by the conflict in Iran.
The proposed changes, awaiting approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission, include an 8% surcharge on Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage and Parcel Select services, the agency said in a news release.
The price of First-Class stamps, which jumped by a nickel last year, won’t be affected.
If approved, the new pricing will take effect Sunday, April 26 and remain in place through Jan. 17, 2027.
“At that time, the Postal Service can determine if a different long-term approach is needed,” the agency said.
Here’s what to know ahead of the planned price hike:
How much more could I pay?
Package shipping rates tend vary by location (and intended destination), unlike flat-rate shipping products. However, both are expected to cost more should the USPS’ proposed surcharge get the final stamp of approval.
Sending a Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope through the Post Office currently costs around $11.95 but would jump to $12.90 with the extra fee, data show.
Meanwhile, shipping a Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Envelope could cost $35.90, over $2 more than the current estimated price of $33.25.
USPS argued the added costs are still “less than a third” of what competitors like UPS and FedEx charge for fuel.
“So even with this change, the Postal Service continues to offer great value in shipping with some of the lowest rates in the industrialized world,” officials said in the release.
How much is gas in North Carolina?
In its latest pitch to the Postal Regulatory Commission, the USPS said the adjustments are necessary “to better align its costs of transportation with the market.” It comes amid escalating conflicts in the Middle East, which have caused oil prices to surge in recent months.
The average price for gallon of regular gas in North Carolina reached $3.91 on Thursday, April 2, up from $3.77 just a week ago, according to AAA.com.
That was still lower than the national average of $4.08 on Thursday, data show.
This story was originally published April 2, 2026 at 2:28 PM.