U.S. Postal Service – Declining Mail Volume

A fight back on Junk Mail by some 18 states in the US, as well as declining mail volumes has created a GBP 1 billion deficit for the U.S. postal service.

A decline in mail volume, particularly from domestic mail users, has seen postal operators increasingly reliant on Junk Mail but with real concerns over the quantity of paper being used that stretches the recycling capability of many towns and cities, many see the Junk Mail era as a short-lived one.

The U.S. could see more post offices located in other outlets to reduce costs, a trend already being established in the UK.

Increased competition in the U.S. is also putting pressure on the U.S. postal service. Rivals such as German-based DHL, FedEx, UPS and others are all contributing to a gradual decline in profitability and the U.S. postal service is urgently looking at ways to curb spending including reduced overtime and using more part-time workers.

Steve Lawson, editor of Hellmail.co.uk said:

“Whilst the internet age has transformed the way we all communicate and do business, it has undermined the role of postal services to such an extent that few of us actually post many letters now. The problem is a global one, not made easier by deregulated postal markets and greater competition for what were once public-sector services.”