The sneaky - and not-so-sneaky - ways that companies are raising prices due to the Iran war

Key Points:

• Rising fuel prices due to war-driven pressures have led businesses to implement new fees or subtle changes such as higher free shipping minimums, smaller package sizes, and slower delivery to offset increased costs.
• Jet fuel costs in the U.S. have nearly doubled, increasing airline expenses significantly, with United Airlines estimating an extra $11 billion annually if prices remain elevated.
• Amazon introduced a temporary 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge for third-party sellers using its fulfillment services, potentially leading sellers to raise prices, though consumers are not directly charged this fee.
• Airlines JetBlue and United Airlines have raised checked baggage fees by $4 to $10, attributing the increases to rising operating and fuel costs, with no clear indication if these fees are temporary.
• The U.S. Postal Service announced its first-ever fuel surcharge of 8% on packages starting April 26, set to last until at least January 2027, while major shippers like FedEx and UPS continue to apply automatic fuel surcharges based on diesel price thresholds.