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Amazon announced Wednesday (April 13) that it will be adding a 5% fuel and inflation surcharge for sellers.
The e-commerce company said the additional fee will begin April 28 and that the move is a first in its history. In a statement the company said that the charge is a result of worsening inflation that has only increased in recent months.
"In 2022, we expected a return to normalcy as Covid-19 restrictions around the world eased, but fuel and inflation have presented further challenges," the company wrote in a statement obtained by CNN. "It is unclear if these inflationary costs will go up or down, or for how long they will persist."
The 5% fee will impact sellers who use Amazon to store, pack and ship items through the company, a spokesperson told CNN. Other sellers who don't use the Fulfill By Amazon feature won't be impacted.
Amazon isn't the only company imposing additional fees for fuel. Rideshare giants Uber and Lyft have added fuel charges for riders as gas prices broke national records in the wake of sanctions on Russia's oil supplies amid the war in Ukraine.
Last month, the Consumer Price Index saw a jump in prices that hasn't been in 41 years. Prices of goods have increased 8.5% in a year, and 1.2% from February 2022, the index showed. Suppliers have raised their prices 11.2% in March, reflecting the changing economy.
"Like many, we have experienced significant cost increases and absorbed them, wherever possible, to reduce the impact on our selling partners," Amazon said. "When we did increase fees, we were focused on addressing permanent costs and ensuring our fees were competitive with those charged by other services providers."
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