Postal carrier Marc Jacques delivers the mail in a neighborhood on March 19, 2026 in Miami, Florida.The U.S. Postal Service on Wednesday said it is seeking to impose a temporary 8% fuel surcharge for package and express mail deliveries to deal with rising transportation costs, which include higher oil prices as a result of the Iran war.If approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission, the surcharge would take effect April 26 and remain in place until Jan. 17, 2027, the Postal Service said in a notice on its ...

Core Insights - Winter Storm Fern has significantly disrupted logistics and delivery operations across the continental U.S., affecting major operators like UPS, FedEx, and USPS [1][2][4] Group 1: Impact on Logistics Operators - UPS suspended operations at its Worldport air hub in Louisville, Kentucky, due to heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures [1] - FedEx activated contingency plans to mitigate impacts at its FedEx World Hub in Memphis, Tennessee, and Indianapolis [3] - USPS suspended its service guarantee for Priority Mail Express and halted acceptance until Tuesday due to the storm [4] Group 2: Flight Cancellations - Over 4,300 flights were canceled as of Monday morning, with significant cancellations from major airports including Boston Logan and New York's JFK, Newark Liberty, and LaGuardia [5] - At the peak of the storm, more than 13,000 flights were canceled, marking the largest cancellation day since March 2020 [6] Group 3: Government Response - The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a regional emergency declaration across 40 states to suspend hours of service regulations, allowing drivers more flexibility to move essential supplies [7]

Federal Services - Non-essential federal offices, including Social Security Administration field offices and passport agencies, will be closed on New Year's Day [2] - IRS services will also be unavailable, requiring individuals to wait until the following day for assistance [2] Financial Markets - Major U.S. exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq, will be closed for trading on New Year's Day, with operations resuming on January 2 [3][6] Mail and Delivery Services - The U.S. Postal Service will not operate on New Year's Day, with only Priority Mail Express deliveries being made [4] - FedEx and UPS will also pause operations, with limited services available for urgent shipments [5] Banking Sector - Most major banks, including Bank of America and Wells Fargo, will be closed for the holiday, although mobile banking and ATMs will remain accessible [7] Retail and Grocery - Major retailers like Walmart and Target will operate on New Year's Day, while grocery stores show a mixed picture with some chains open and others closed [8][9] - Discount grocers such as Aldi and Trader Joe's will remain closed, while convenience stores and pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens will generally stay open [10] Restaurants - Fast-food chains, including McDonald's and Starbucks, will have many locations open, although hours may vary by franchisee [12]