U.S. Postal Service

• Private
• US

Dow Jones Description

Postmaster General John E. Potter, in testimony today before a House subcommittee, urged lawmakers to provide the Postal Service with greater flexibility with regard to mandated retiree health benefit payments. The Postal Service asked for no financial assistance from Congress. As a result of the economic recession, the Postal Service has predicted that mail volume will likely plunge to 180 billion pieces by the end of fiscal year 2009 (Sept. 31), from 212 billion pieces as recently as 2007. At the hearing, Potter described Postal Service actions to sustain long-term economic viability, including reductions in fixed, variable and non-personnel costs over the next three years. The $900-billion mailing industry employs 9 million Americans in businesses ranging from catalog sales to paper manufacturing and printing. The industry is the conduit for roughly $1 trillion in commerce annually, represents nearly 7.5 percent of the GDP and drives our nation's economy. The Postal Service is at the center of the mailing industry, playing an invaluable role in the United States economy and maintaining an economic presence in every community in America.

Number of Employees 25,000

Contact Information

NAICS Code Local Messengers and Local Delivery: 492210