Survey: Shipping costs on the rise

In the midst of a receding economy with increasing commodity prices and high fuel costs — and the holiday shipping season right around the corner — many businesses are seeing rising shipping costs, according to an Endicia survey of more than 500 small businesses that sell goods online.

Of the businesses surveyed, 84% say they have seen annual shipping costs increase this year.

The survey also reveals that more than 40% of these companies have incurred a fuel surcharge from their shipping carrier.  At the same time, 34% say they do not know if their shipping provider had instituted a fuel surcharge. 

Fuel surcharges of private carriers range from 8.25% of shipping costs for ground service up to 28.5% for air service.