Oct 20, 2015

Is the cost of rising health insurance benefits hitting the big delivery companies? According to the Wall Street Journal, FedEx Corp. is raising its fuel surcharge for the second time this year, jolting e-commerce companies, retailers and other shippers with price increases just as they gear up for the make-or-break holiday sales season.The Wall Street Journal says the increase, which takes effect Nov. 2, would add about $170 to the bill for shipping 100 shoeboxes. UPS’s surcharge would add about $200 to the cost of shipping the same 100 shoeboxes, the analysis found.

The increases are coming just in time for the holiday season. With fuel prices lowering, one would think delivery costs would be falling. But both Fed Ex and UPS are seeing their overnight delivery businesses sink like a rock because of email and instant messaging. And, with more home deliveries, more gas is burned. Could it be the cost of providing health insurance under Obama Care? Steve and Sinclair review. In the Q & A, Sinclair and Steve review several key points from the Mastering Money Retirement Workshop at the Museum of the West.