Holiday shipping and the 2012
election helped the Postal Service stems its losses, but the agency’s
financial woes continued in the first quarter, which ended Dec 31.
The Postal Service posted a $1.3
billion loss in the first quarter, compared with a $3.1 billion loss over the
same period last year. The agency said the first quarter has traditionally been
one of its strongest periods. Total mail volume continued to decline, however. Mail volume was 43.5 billion pieces for the quarter, down from 43.6 billion in earlier year, according to agency officials.
Revenue from first-class mail, which provides the bulk of the revenue for the Postal Service, declined $237 million, or 3.1 percent, from the same period last year, with a decrease in volume of 834 million pieces, or 4.5 percent. Revenue from advertising mail increased $141 million, or 3.1 percent, in the first quarter compared with the same period last year on a volume increase of 783 million pieces, or 3.6 percent.
