US diesel prices rose 38.8% from July to October... retailers reviewing shipping fees

U.S. small retailers are weighing higher customer shipping fees and reduced free-shipping offers ahead of the holiday season after the national average retail price of on-road diesel rose 38.8% between July and October, CNBC reported, citing interviews with business owners. A handcrafted-accessories seller is considering its first shipping-rate increase in six years because customer fees no longer cover actual transport and packaging costs, while a clothing company has begun deducting return-shipping costs from customer refunds for the first time this year and is also weighing product price hikes or charging for initial delivery. The shift matters because it signals fuel-cost inflation is moving through to consumer-facing e-commerce economics at smaller merchants, which typically have thinner margins than large chains. The distinction between deducting return-shipping fees and charging upfront delivery fees reflects different stages of passing costs through to customers. What to watch next is whether more small retailers follow with explicit shipping surcharges or price increases during the peak holiday period.