March 1, 2026: Parcels, Hospitals, Gas – Price Hikes Arrive
Starting March 1, 2026, four measures are increasing the financial burden on French households: a €2 tax on parcels from outside the EU, higher hospital fees, an increase in gas prices, and a rise in vehicle registration costs in several regions.
A €2 Tax on Small Asian Parcels
The competitive advantage of ultra-fast-fashion giants is over: as of Sunday, March 1st, every item imported from outside the European Union with a value of less than €150 is subject to a tax of €2 per customs category. In concrete terms, an order including a t-shirt, a pair of headphones, and a piece of jewelry on Temu or Shein will incur a tax of €6, regardless of the total value of the parcel.
This measure, included in the 2026 budget, aims to restore competitive equality between local businesses – subject to VAT and European standards – and Chinese platforms that previously shipped their parcels duty-free. The government expects revenues of around €500 million, earmarked to finance the strengthening of customs controls.
The measure is only a first step: from July 2026, an additional European customs duty of €3 per item will be added, bringing the total tax to €5 per category. The European Union has decided to eliminate the customs exemption on low-value shipments, which has long been accused of distorting the internal market.
Hospital Fees Rise Sharply
At the same time, patients are seeing their hospital costs increase significantly. The daily hospital fee – a contribution to accommodation and meal costs – is increasing from €20 to €23 per day. The emergency room patient fee, charged for a visit without hospitalization, is also jumping from €19.61 to €23. Psychiatric care is following suit, with an increase from €15 to €17 per day.
These increases are part of a €400 million savings plan on hospital spending by the national health insurance. While the vast majority of insured individuals will be covered by their supplemental health insurance, approximately 2.5 million French people – 4% of the population, and up to 12% among the most vulnerable – do not have supplemental coverage and will have to pay out of pocket. Insurance company unions warn that these increases could also be passed on to members' premiums this year.
Gas and Vehicle Registration: The Bill Continues
The benchmark price of natural gas is increasing by 3.93% on March 1st. For households that heat with gas, the average price is rising from €0.1304 to approximately €0.1357 including VAT per kWh (cooking and hot water), and from €0.0998 to €0.1051 including VAT for heating. A moderate increase, but one that adds to a persistent inflationary environment.
Several regions have also increased the price of vehicle registration. Île-de-France is now applying a specific surcharge of €14 per horsepower, causing the registration cost to jump from €54.95 to €68.95 per hp. Corsica is also affected, with a price increase from €43 to €53. Electric vehicles remain exempt from this regional tax.
A Difficult March for Purchasing Power
Overall, this March 1, 2026, marks a notable tightening of the cost of living for many households. Online commerce, health, energy, mobility: the fronts are multiple. While some measures respond to legitimate objectives – fair competition, sustainability of social security – their convergence in the same month illustrates the persistent pressures on the purchasing power of the French.
