Colorado Springs residents who mail holiday packages could face steeper costs next year if a new federal filing by the U.S. Postal Service moves forward.
The Postal Service submitted its notice to the Postal Regulatory Commission seeking approval for the temporary rate adjustments, which are tied to the 2026 holiday peak shipping period. According to USPS, the proposed increases are meant to help cover elevated handling and operational expenses that arise when shipping volumes surge during the holidays.
Under the proposal, the new rates would take effect on October 4 and stay in place through January 17, 2027. The services that would be subject to the adjusted pricing include Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage, and Parcel Select.
USPS indicated that the majority of customers would see increases ranging from the single digits into the low double digits, with the largest cost jumps falling on heavier items shipped over longer distances. Across the board, the bulk of the adjustments are expected to fall somewhere between 5% and 15%.
Customers sending heavy packages across long distances could face increases approaching 10% to 25%. At the lower end of the scale, smaller Priority Mail shipments are projected to see hikes in roughly the 4% to 10% range.
The Postal Service characterized the proposed pricing shift as a move to bring what it charges both retail and commercial customers into alignment with practices seen elsewhere in the industry. The Postal Regulatory Commission must still complete its review before any rate changes can take effect, and no final decision has been issued.