Posted on 05/09/2026 4:34:26 AM PDT by Libloather
WASHINGTON, May 8 (Reuters) - The U.S. Postal Service on Friday reported a net quarterly loss of $2 billion as it faces a growing financial crisis and has warned it could run out of cash as soon as February.
USPS said mail volumes fell another 6.3% in the three months ending March 31 as operating revenue rose 2.3% to $20.2 billion over the same quarter last year.
USPS last month said it would temporarily suspend employer payments for a federal pension program to conserve cash and plans to raise the price of first-class mail stamps to 82 cents from 78 cents, effective July 12.
USPS has reported total net losses of $120 billion since 2007 as first-class mail, its most profitable product, has fallen to its lowest volume since the late 1960s. "We are in a cash crisis, and we are now taking serious and appropriate steps to conserve funds to operate," Postmaster General David Steiner said. "To avoid disruption and to sustain our role supporting American commerce and the public, we require urgent Congressional action to expand our borrowing authority and to address outdated constraints on the organization."
USPS's suspension of employee pension contributions will conserve $200 million in cash every two weeks, or $2.5 billion through September 30, it said.
Last month, USPS won approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission for a temporary 8% price hike for priority mail and package deliveries to deal with rising transportation and fuel costs. USPS plans for the surcharge to be in effect through January 17, 2027.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
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No worries, Congress puts some $6 billion of debt PERMANETLY every day. The USPS is the least of our worries, the Uniparty will kill us much faster than the antiquated USPS.
$2 billion in 1 three month period? And they get dough from Amazon for Sunday deliveries as well? Somebody is getting very wealthy...................
One of the few things the federal government is supposed to do and they still can’t do it properly.
April 22 - Mail deliveries to community are stopped over USPS’ shocking $400K debt (Maine)
https://nypost.com/2026/04/22/lifestyle/usps-400k-debt-leaves-communities-without-mail-service/
This is the reason for their financial problems.
US Postal Service (USPS) employees earn an average salary of approximately $64,000–$68,000 per year as of 2026, with typical roles ranging from $44,000 to over $98,000 depending on position and location.
City mail carriers often have median wages around $57,000–$58,000.
Specialized or management roles pay significantly more.
Some of the lower status mail sorters ——no skills necessary——earn as much as $100,000 plus with overtime.
Overstaffing is also a problem.
I read an article claiming that UPS and FedEx take the easy deliveries, and hand off their tougher (more remote) ones to the USPS.
I would suppose Amazon does the same.
I have no idea how correct that article is. But if it is correct, then something is out of balance here. And no wonder the USPS is running a deficit.
Delivery of first class mail, and the construction of post offices and post roads, is one of the assigned Constitutional functions of the Federal government.
Being a FEDEX distributor is not.
My grandkids still haven’t received their Christmas cards yet....
Hilarious. I ordered a small product from the LA area to SC and it was shipped on 2/25, I still haven’t received it. I tracked it…….it has been to Memphis five times, Charleston three times, Shreveport two times, Jackson MS three times. Last time I I checked it was back in Charleston. I reported it and was told the package is “looping”.
Were there checks in those envelopes? Lots of mail theft these days.
“One of the few things the federal government is supposed to do and they still can’t do it properly.”
Well, yes and no.....from AI 👇
“the United States Postal Service (USPS) is a federal entity, but it operates as a quasi-governmental, independent agency. Established in 1970, it is part of the executive branch but is designed to operate similarly to a private business, funding its operations through postage and services rather than tax dollars.Key details about the USPS as of May 2026:Structure: It is an independent establishment of the executive branch.Funding: The USPS is largely self-funded, using revenue from sales to pay for operations, not taxpayer funds.”
Gosh, that might explain why I get so many gimme money letters from various politicians and PACs.
How long until the government imposes a fee on email because that's why the USPS is broke? At least that will cut down on the daily avalanche of spam that I get in my inbox.
82 times more expensive than when I was a kid, and still losing money
Patriots, Call Congress
US Capitol switchboard
(202) 224-3121.
Call the White House
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
TTY/TTD Comments: 202-456-6213
Send a letter to the White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500
Message: The US Postal Service (USPS) is not supposed to be financed with tax dollars,
but on USPS revenue from postage and services, which totaled roughly $80.5 billion in 2025.
USPS Total Expenses (2025): Around $90 billion, driven by employee costs, elaborate overtime schemes and overstaffing.
The US Postal Service brings in an average of $262.5 million daily.
The Postal Service pays roughly $2.1 billion in salaries and benefits every two weeks.
The USPS is currently experiencing a financial crisis, operating at a net loss despite billions in revenue.
How did the USPS reach its legal maximum debt of $15 billion?
Same here, I know because my grandson hasn't cashed the check and so I talked to him and they haven't received anything from us.
Talking to the post office folks is a waste of effort, the cards are in a black hole.
I will never understand how the able-bodied who would never trust the USPS with cash, would then entrust it with something as precious as their ballot.
Didn’t mail theft use to be uncommon because of the severity of the crime and penalties, and because it was taken seriouslu and investigated?
I seem to remember a proposal from a Republican Congressman to privative the USPS with shares to be held by postal employees. Obviously, it didn’t happen.
If the USPS made a profit every year, that would be a considerable gift. Getting shares of a loss machine is another matter. At least it should create incentives to turn a profit. If nothing else, the USPS could be liquidated with the proceeds going to employees.
In a normal bankruptcy, debt holders are prioritized. Is a retirement fund considered a debt?
Patriots, Call Congress
US Capitol switchboard
(202) 224-3121.
Call the White House
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
TTY/TTD Comments: 202-456-6213
Send a letter to the White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500
Message: The US Postal Service (USPS) is not supposed to be financed with tax dollars,
but on USPS revenue from postage and services, which totaled roughly $80.5 billion in 2025.
USPS Total Expenses (2025): Around $90 billion, driven by employee costs, elaborate overtime schemes and overstaffing.
The US Postal Service brings in an average of $262.5 million daily.
The Postal Service pays roughly $2.1 billion in salaries and benefits every two weeks.
The USPS is currently experiencing a financial crisis, operating at a net loss despite billions in revenue.
How did the USPS reach its legal maximum debt of $15 billion?
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