FedEx readies for the busiest holiday season in company history

For the tenth consecutive year, FedEx Corp. expects to break company volume records when an unprecedented 11.3 million packages move through the FedEx Express and FedEx Ground global networks on December 17, 2007. On an average day, more than
7 million packages move through the FedEx systems.
Other FedEx projections for this holiday season include:
• FedEx Ground projects it will handle its highest package volume ever on Monday, December 10, 2007, when it expects to move more than 7 million packages.
• December 17, 2007, is expected to be FedEx Express busiest night with nearly 5 million packages moving through the network.
• FedEx international markets including the United Kingdom, China, India and Canada also will see their busiest day on Dec. 17, 2007 when they collectively process nearly 350,000 FedEx Express domestic international shipments.
• FedEx Kinkos also will see its busiest night on December 17, 2007, when 345,000 FedEx Express and FedEx Ground packages are projected to move through the FedEx Kinkos channel.This is a 12 percent increase over last years busiest day for FedEx Kinkos.
• FedEx SmartPost expects its busiest day will be December 3, 2007 with 1.9 million shipments moving through the network.
• The award winning fedex.com Web site is expected to break records as well this holiday season, processing an average of almost 6.5 million online tracking requests per day during the peak month of December. On average, fedex.com processes 3.5 million online tracking requests per day. On the highest single day in December, we expect 8 million online tracking requests.
FedEx and E-Commerce “Perfect Partners
"While overall economic growth has slowed, there are several indicators for a healthy holiday season,” Smith continued. "Consumer spending remains steady and e-commerce will continue to drive holiday spending while sales of luxury goods and electronics should remain strong."
Online sales are projected to be the best-performing retail channel during the holidays, according to TNS Retail Forward. The firm expects online retail sales to approach USD 42 billion in the fourth quarter of 2007 compared with USD35 billion last holiday season, a year-over-year increase of 18.5 percent.
The National Retail Federation predicts that holiday sales will continue to rise, although sales are projected to be the slowest since 2002 due to broader economic conditions. Holiday spending is projected to increase to USD 474.5 billion, a 4 percent rise over 2006.
"What is most encouraging is that global growth continues at a solid pace, especially in China and India. In todays dynamic and wired environment, FedEx is the key in providing our customers access to this growing global marketplace, " said Smith. "Through continuous innovation, FedEx is able to connect our customers " both large and small " to 220 countries and territories this holiday season and beyond."
Shipping Made Easy with FedEx
FedEx stands ready to help last-minute shoppers get their gifts delivered in time for the holidays. The last day to ship with FedEx Express is December 22, 2007 for delivery scheduled before Christmas. The last day to ship with FedEx Ground for the holiday is December 17, 2007. FedEx offers easy access to its shipping networks for individual customers during the holidays and beyond with more than 51,000 drop-off locations nationwide.
FedEx Kinkos provides customers with convenient, one-stop service for shipping and shopping needs this holiday season with more than 1,600 digitally-connected locations nationwide. These centers offer a full range of FedEx Express, FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery shipping options " complete with packaging services, supplies and unique holiday gift ideas.