Here's a new cost of living item to add to your list: mailing packages. The United States Postal Service is rolling out its first-ever fuel surcharge on packages, and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has a name for it. He's calling it the "Trump Mail Tax."
In a post on social media platform X, the Democratic governor took aim at former President Donald Trump as the USPS announced an 8% surcharge to offset rising fuel costs. "Groceries. Gas. Now packages. Is there anything Donald Trump hasn't made more expensive?" Pritzker wrote. He then urged people to refer to the new USPS charge by his chosen moniker.
The surcharge comes as drivers across the country are feeling the pinch at the pump. According to the American Automobile Association, the national average for a gallon of gas was $3.981 on Wednesday. Prices ranged from a high of $5.843 in California to a low of $3.256 in Oklahoma.
It's not just the Postal Service adapting to higher fuel costs. The food delivery platform DoorDash Inc. (DASH) is launching an emergency relief program for its drivers. The program will offer a 10% cashback on fuel purchases to drivers using a DoorDash Crimson Visa Debit Card, plus up to $15 in weekly payments based on miles driven.
Meanwhile, on the regulatory side, Trump's Environmental Protection Agency has confirmed it will temporarily allow broader summer sales of E15 gasoline. E15 is a higher-ethanol blend that's typically restricted in warmer months over concerns it could worsen smog. The temporary push is seen as a move to increase fuel supply and potentially ease prices.
The conversation about fuel costs is happening against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical tension. Trump recently warned Iran to accept its defeat and stated the U.S. was ready to "unleash hell" as conflicts escalate. Authorities in Abu Dhabi reported that two people were killed during interceptions of missile strikes in the Emirate.
In response to the instability, Japan—one of the largest importers of Middle Eastern oil—has begun releasing another portion of its strategic oil reserves. The goal is to cushion the impact of the war on global energy markets and, by extension, prices.
So, between a new postal surcharge, delivery apps offering gas relief, regulatory changes for biofuels, and oil markets reacting to overseas conflict, the cost of getting things from point A to point B is having a moment. And in an election year, every extra charge is getting a nickname.
