[NaturalBornConservative]

“Have these overpayments to retirement funds been one reason postage rates have been increased?”

Yes. And good point. Instead of thinking that they lost $7 billion last year, the USPS would be $68 billion to the good and not need to raise postage. Heck, they could be cutting postage!

[muawiyah]

Alas, the $78 billion was collected under the presumption it was needed for employee retirements. It should be retained for that purpose. Today's "users" paying postage are not the same as yesterday's "users" paying postage, but we have essentially the same employees.

I assure you the money is better off in the pockets of the postal retirees than any customer, or certainly Congress.