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USA Today
6 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Whether by train, plane or dog sled, the US Postal Service has kept America connected
America's Founding Fathers had the foresight to recognize that an efficient postal service would be an essential tool of democracy. Odds are they didn't envision mailboxes stuffed with grocery ads, prescription medicines and AARP The Magazine. On Saturday, the United States Postal Service will mark 250 years of serving a mission unthwarted by rain, sleet, snow or gloom of night. A key mechanism of an informed citizenry, a building block of U.S. independence and a storied part of American culture, the agency has faithfully delivered letters nationwide, regardless of geographic distance, all for the price of a stamp — even as its challenges to do so without delay or a deficit have grown. 'The post office was created a year before the Declaration of Independence and has been there at every step along the American journey,' said Steve Kochersperger, the agency's postal historian. 'It goes everywhere Americans have gone and keeps us united.' To name a small handful of those who have carried mail to your door: Walt Disney; actors Morgan Freeman, Steve Carell and Rock Hudson; folk singer John Prine, jazz bassist Charles Mingus, vocalist Jason Mraz and guitarist Ace Frehley, a founding member of KISS. But just as it did more than two centuries ago, the postal service faces danger and uncertainty, this time in the face of financial and logistical challenges that threaten to see it privatized or merged with the U.S. Department of Commerce. Such a merger was proposed earlier this year by President Donald Trump, who called USPS "a tremendous loser for this country." According to the U.S. General Accountability Office, the agency has operated at a deficit for the last 15 years, with a net loss of $100 billion since 2007. Meanwhile, costs are outpacing revenue as once dependable First-Class Mail has fallen in volume, among other factors. In spite of its troubles, the postal service trails only the National Park Service in terms of public favor, according to a 2024 Pew Research Center survey. Meanwhile, the agency's new postmaster general, David Steiner, assured postal employees in a video address last week that he supported keeping the agency in its current form. "I do not believe that the Postal Service should be privatized or that it should become an appropriated part of the federal government," he said. "I believe in the current structure of the Postal Service as a self-financing, independent entity of the executive branch." Today, according to its website, the postal service serves nearly 169 million addresses nationwide with a staff of 640,000, the bulk of them career workers, and a fleet of almost 258,000 vehicles. In 2024, the agency handled more than 116 billion pieces of mail, most of it so-called junk mail. 'It was conceived as an expansive public service,' said Cameron Blevins, a professor of history and digital humanities at the University of Colorado Denver. 'It has changed a lot over its history, but that dedication to providing a service to American citizens, regardless of where you live, has been there since the beginning.' On Wednesday, USPS is marking its milestone with two separate stamp releases, including a Forever series depicting a mail carrier on her community rounds and a modern interpretation of a 5-cent stamp, first issued in 1847, that portrays Benjamin Franklin, the nation's first postmaster general. The agency's role is cited in the U.S. Constitution in a clause empowering Congress to establish post offices and their delivery infrastructure. At the time, American democracy was still an experiment in a world of monarchs and empires, dependent on a free exchange of ideas. 'Democracy needed to have informed voters and the post office was integral in making sure they had the information they needed,' said Christopher Shaw, author of 'First Class: The USPS, Democracy and the Corporate Threat.' Notable figures have labored in its service. President Abraham Lincoln served as a local postmaster before pursuing law and politics; so too did Nobel Prize-winning American novelist William Faulkner, though not as effectively. 'He preferred playing cards or leaving early to go golf,' Kochersperger said of Faulkner. While its delivery modes, offerings and workforce have changed throughout the years, its basic mission of ensuring an informed and connected public has not. That tradition endures as books, magazines and newspapers continue to enjoy reduced shipping rates; so do mailings by charities and other nonprofit organizations like arts entities and political advocacy groups. 'If you look at post-Second World War social movements – the civil rights movement, the environmental movement, all those organizations – the main way they raised money and let supporters know what was happening was through the mail,' Shaw said. 'So historically, it's been a bedrock of democracy and getting information.' The agency's role was crucial from the beginning, Kochersperger said. In 1775, as the fight for American independence began, the Second Continental Congress appointed George Washington as commander in chief of the Continental Army. But how to communicate with its military? The American revolutionaries couldn't very well use British-established postal channels for correspondence that would have been seen as treasonous. 'They needed a postal service, so they picked Benjamin Franklin to head that up,' Kochersperger said. Franklin, who'd spent nearly four decades as Philadelphia's postmaster, had a genius for efficiency, Kochersperger said. He devised a system in which military correspondence was delivered by messengers on foot and riders on horseback, forging a major advantage for colonial forces in their war against the British. 'The same orders from London would take two months,' Kochersperger said. 'The postal service was crucial to American independence.' A vital part of Western expansion In 1848, as part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Mexico bequeathed half of its territory following a U.S. war of aggression against its southern neighbor. The U.S. gained what is now California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, most of Arizona and parts of four other states. Hundreds of thousands of people streamed into the American West, said Blevins of CU Denver, many pursuing newly discovered gold in California, thousands of miles away from their communities and population centers in the East. Seeking to facilitate their communications with families, neighbors and business associates back home, the U.S. leaned on the postal service to do the job. The agency farmed out some duties to contractor operations such as the famed Pony Express, whose riders delivered mail on horseback from Missouri to California from 1860-61. As contracts and correspondence traveled back and forth across the miles, the postal service served as the connective tissue of Western expansion, carrying news of engagements and growing families, of business booms and busts. 'It did not discriminate on the basis of distance,' said Blevins, whose research focuses on role of the federal government in the American West of the 1800s. 'A gold miner who went to the fields of southwest Colorado, thousands of miles away from his family in say, Ohio, could mail a letter back home for the same price as his cousin living in Ohio a couple of counties away.' Many early post offices were not the familiar standalone government facilities staffed by uniformed workers familiar to people today. Instead, businesses such as general stores collected commissions in exchange for distributing incoming and outgoing mail. 'You would go in and buy flour or coffee,' Blevins said, 'and ask if you had any mail.' Sled dogs and hovercraft In the 1890s, postmaster general Jon Wanamaker, a former retail wizard, pushed for the postal service to expand free mail delivery service to rural areas and conceived the notion of commemorative stamps that people could collect and not necessarily use. Mail was delivered by stagecoach, steamboat and then railway, sorted on board moving trains. Other modes of delivery have included sled dogs, mules, reindeer and hovercraft, but the agency's most transformative upgrade occurred in 1918 with the development of airmail at a time when airports were still a budding concept. 'The post office had to build runways, install radios and train its own pilots,' Kochersperger said. In the 1920s, the postal service again relied on contractors to provide many of those services, forming the foundations of today's airline industry as some providers found they could boost profits by transporting people. 'That really helped kickstart aviation in this country,' Shaw said. 'The majority of early revenues, before passengers, came from transporting U.S. mail.' ZIP codes, introduced in 1963, allowed mail to be more efficiently sorted – and ultimately for American consumers and voters to be categorized and profiled. 'Try to do something today that doesn't involve a ZIP code,' Kochersperger said. 'You can't even order a pizza without a ZIP code.' Postal workers throughout the years have faced various degrees of peril. Franklin's revolutionary mail carriers faced capture by British soldiers. Frontier carriers dodged thieves and robbers. Weather, terrain and faulty equipment posed their own deadly obstacles; flying accidents claimed the lives of 34 airmail pilots from 1918 to 1927. Today, the most common danger is dogs. More than 6,000 dog bite incidents were recorded nationwide in 2024, USPS senior spokesman David Coleman said. 'The best ideals of American democracy' Until 1971, said author Shaw, the post office was a federal department that historically operated at a slight deficit. Postage accounted for most of its revenue, he said, with U.S. Treasury funds making up the difference. Under the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, the department was restructured as the United States Postal Service, an independent federal agency under executive control, with the idea that it would be self-funded. Recent decades have brought financial struggles, most notably the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, which both limited how the agency could make money and required it to pay billions into a fund to finance future healthcare obligations for retirees. Then came the financial recession and the rise of online bill pay, both of which took a bite out of postal revenue. 'All these things kind of hit at once,' Shaw said. 'On the other side, expanding e-commerce has meant new revenues. There's less mail being delivered but more packages being delivered, so it has balanced out a bit.' While the post office still exists to provide information and communication, it's under more intense financial pressure to do so with Congress no longer offsetting its shortfalls. That has prompted talk of privatization, a move Shaw fears would inhibit the agency's ability to adapt with the times. 'The post office provides a lot of economically inefficient services,' Shaw said. 'A for-profit company would not want to be delivering mail to the most rural Americans. But because the mission of the postal service is to bind the nation together, it provides universal service to everyone.' In that sense, Shaw said, part of the postal service's ongoing legacy is that whatever its flaws, it still embodies the nation's democratic ideals. 'The federal government through the postal service commits to serving everybody equally whether you're rich or poor, rural or urban, whether you live in Alaska or New York City,' he said. 'It's been an expression of the best ideals of American democracy and demonstrated the ability of the government to actually deliver on that promise…. It's still around, and for an institution to exist for 250 years shows there's a reason for it to exist and that it's doing something right.'
Newsweek
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Steve Carell, Morgan Freeman Delivered Mail for USPS. Lots of Other Stars Too
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Even before the Founding Fathers declared that all men are created equal, one truth was already self-evident in the blossoming United States of America: The people need their mail. Established during the Second Continental Congress on July 26, 1775, the United States Postal Service has kept Americans connected for 250 years—from transporting letters on horseback to delivering e-commerce in green trucks. And over the years, some of America's most recognizable figures—including actors Steve Carell and Morgan Freeman—delivered mail before they made their big break. The 16th U.S. President Abraham Lincoln earned his famous moniker "Honest Abe" while postmaster in New Salem, Illinois, and aviator Charles Lindbergh became the famous "Lucky Lindy" as an airmail pilot. Even Walt Disney delivered mail before Mickey Mouse graced the silver screen, and a whole host of musicians started off as postal workers, including the legendary jazz bassist Charles Mingus. A group of United States Postal Service (USPS) mechanics and vehicles, possibly Ford Model A Parcel Post trucks, awaiting repair at an USPS garage, United States, circa 1935. A group of United States Postal Service (USPS) mechanics and vehicles, possibly Ford Model A Parcel Post trucks, awaiting repair at an USPS garage, United States, circa 1935. FPG/Archive Photos/Getty "To be a jazz musician is a meager livelihood for most," USPS historian Steve Kochersperger told Newsweek. "He was a brilliant musician, but he depended on the Postal Service when he needed to pay the bills." Even "I'm Yours" singer Jason Mraz worked as a casual clerk before pursuing his music career. "All of our most precious documents, contracts, presents and checks from grandma go through their trusted hands," Mraz told Newsweek via email. "I personally think they are national service members that get overlooked—like park rangers, but for packages." Today, USPS processes and delivers on average over 370 million pieces of mail daily, thanks to its nationwide network of 640,000 employees and automated sorters. Though vehicular transportation has made mail delivery much faster than in its early days, the system still employs 6,450 "fleet of feet" workers who deliver mail entirely on foot. A testament to the reliability of its workers, the phrase "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds" has long been attributed to the U.S. Postal Service. "That quote from the ancient Greek Herodotus is on the main post office building in New York City, where millions of people have seen it over the years and they've come to associate it with the Postal Service," Kochersperger said. "We embrace that." When I Was a Postal Worker... US actor Steve Carell attends the Fans Premiere of Illumination and Universal Pictures' "Minions: The Rise of Gru" on June 25, 2022, in Hollywood, California. US actor Steve Carell attends the Fans Premiere of Illumination and Universal Pictures' "Minions: The Rise of Gru" on June 25, 2022, in Hollywood, California. VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Steve Carell, actor Rural Mail Carrier—Littleton, Massachusetts; 1985 "The hardest job I ever had was being a rural mail carrier. I was terrible at it.... I moved to Chicago a few months later and I found some undelivered mail underneath the seat of my car. So, if someone didn't get that check, it was probably because of me." —60 Minutes interview, November 2014 Morgan Freeman on stage at the Opening Ceremony during the 63rd Monte-Carlo Television Festival on June 14, 2024 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. Morgan Freeman on stage at the Opening Ceremony during the 63rd Monte-Carlo Television Festival on June 14, 2024 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Morgan Freeman, actor Substitute Mail Carrier—San Francisco, California; circa 1965 "Any place is the worst place to deliver mail. I was a substitute mail carrier. That's the worst kind of mail carrier you can be because you don't know the don't know anything about it. A lot of mailboxes you can't find, but you better deliver the mail." —Jimmy Kimmel Live interview, March 2016 Jason Mraz arrives at the 2020 MusiCares Person Of The Year Honoring Aerosmith at West Hall At Los Angeles Convention Center on January 24, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. Jason Mraz arrives at the 2020 MusiCares Person Of The Year Honoring Aerosmith at West Hall At Los Angeles Convention Center on January 24, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. Steve Granitz/WireImage Jason Mraz, singer Casual Clerk—Richmond, Virginia; circa 1995 "Working for the USPS taught me about the integrity of delivering on a promise. A concert ticket is like a postage stamp. It's a promise that I will deliver something, on time, and in good condition." —Newsweek via email, July 2025 Brittany Howard attends the 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards at STAPLES Center on January 26, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. Brittany Howard attends the 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards at STAPLES Center on January 26, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. John Shearer/Getty for The Recording Academy Brittany Howard, singer Rural Carrier Assistant—Athens, Georgia; 2011 "Good people. I was a rural mail carrier, and I think benefits need to be extended to ALL employees. There is a lot of wear [and] tear to the body." —Newsweek via email, July 2025
Time Business News
19-07-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Affordable EDDM Printing and Mailing Services
Have you ever considered how effective direct mail can be in reaching your local customers? With affordable EDDM printing and mailing services, businesses can maximize visibility without breaking the bank. EDDM, or Every Door Direct Mail, is a unique way for local businesses to promote their products and services directly to potential customers in their area. It's an excellent opportunity to put your business in the hands of your target audience! To learn more, keep on reading below. What Is EDDM? Every Door Direct Mail is a service offered by the United States Postal Service that allows businesses to send promotional materials to specific neighborhoods. It's advantageous for small businesses that may not have a large marketing budget. You can choose which postal routes will deliver your mail with EDDM, so you don't need to keep a mailing list. By using this technique, you can make sure that the people who are most likely to need or want your services see your marketing materials. Why Choose EDDM Printing Services? There are countless reasons to choose EDDM printing services for your marketing needs. Here are a few examples: Affordability EDDM (Every Door Direct Mail) is a budget-friendly way to promote your business. It offers bulk mailing rates that are typically lower than standard direct mail costs. This makes it ideal for small businesses looking to stretch their marketing dollars. Local Targeting With EDDM, you can focus your mailings on specific neighborhoods or ZIP codes. This helps you reach the customers most likely to visit your store or use your services. It's a smart way to keep marketing efforts local and effective. No Mailing List Required One major benefit of EDDM is that you don't need a mailing list. The USPS delivers your materials to every household on the selected route. This saves time and avoids the need to buy or manage customer data. Backed by the Postal Service EDDM is operated by the United States Postal Service. That means your mailings are handled through a trusted and well-established system. You can count on reliable delivery and nationwide reach. Designing Effective EDDM Mailers Creating an engaging and eye-catching mailer is crucial for attracting attention from your audience. Here are some key points to consider: Clear Message Appealing Design Call to Action Affordable EDDM printing and mailing services can skyrocket your local presence if executed effectively. Tracking your response after your mailers go out is essential. Analyze the number of inquiries you receive or how much foot traffic increases in your business. Final Tips for EDDM Success If you want better results with your EDDM campaign, keep a few simple tips in mind. First, choose mailing routes where your best customers are likely to live. Look at your area and pick places that match who you're trying to reach. Next, send your mailers at the right time-like before a holiday or at the start of a new season-when people might pay more attention. Finally, follow up after your direct mail for businesses goes out. You can use other ways, like social media or in-store signs, to remind people about your message. Reach Your Local Audience Effectively In today's competitive business landscape, effective marketing is vital for success. Affordable EDDM printing and mailing services allow your business to reach potential customers in a meaningful way. By utilizing EDDM, you can enhance your marketing efforts without overspending. If you're looking to boost your local reach and put your business on the map, consider implementing EDDM strategies. Leap today! TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Newsweek
14-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
USPS Changes Stamp Prices: What to Know
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Mailing a letter will set Americans back more today than it did last week, after the United States Postal Service (USPS) raised the cost of its stamps. The price increase came into effect on July 13, but has been planned for a while as Newsweek reported back in April. The increased rates come as the embattled agency grapples with losing more than $100 billion since 2007, including $9.5 billion in the 12 months ending September 30, 2024. The USPS has also been fending off calls for privatization amid scrutiny from President Donald Trump's administration, and is now seeking a new permanent leader after Postmaster General Louis DeJoy quit in March. Newsweek has reached out by email to USPS seeking comment. A USPS post office in Los Angeles, California, on February 5, 2025. A USPS post office in Los Angeles, California, on February 5, 2025. PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images Why It Matters Prices rose on July 13 and the new rates are set to affect millions of Americans who rely on the USPS to deliver their mail to friends, families, clients or businesses. The agency serves almost 169 million addresses in the U.S., delivering more mail and packages than any other postal service in the world, according to the USPS website. But long-suffering American customers have been hit with a wave of price rises over the past few years. There was a backlash when the USPS raised its rates last summer; the sixth such rise since 2020. Despite the public's reaction, there was another price rise in January 2025 and a further rise on the cost of stamps from this week. What To Know The cost of a Forever Stamp, which can be used at any time in the future regardless of how much a stamp costs at the point in time, is among those being hit with higher prices. Purchasing one Forever Stamp will now cost an additional 5 cents, with the price rising from 73 cents to 78 cents. Letters metered at 1 ounce will also hike in cost, from 69 cents to 74 cents, while the additional-ounce price for single-piece letters will increase from 28 cents to 29 cents. The price for sending domestic postcards will rise from 56 cents to 61 cents, while mailing costs for sending international postcards and international letters will both rise in price from $1.65 to $1.70. What People Are Saying The United States Postal Service (USPS) previously said in an announcement about this week's price hikes: "As changes in the mailing and shipping marketplace continue, these price adjustments are needed to achieve the financial stability sought by the organization's Delivering for America 10-year plan. USPS prices remain among the most affordable in the world." Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has appeared to suggest he is considering privatizing the agency, saying in April, "it's an idea that a lot of people have liked for a long time." But Mark Dimondstein, the leader of the American Postal Workers Union (APSU), told CNN in March that the USPS must beware of "a White House intent on breaking up and selling off" the public agency. He added: "This attack on the USPS is part of the ongoing coup by oligarchs against the vital public services APWU members and other public servants provide to the country. Privatized postal services will lead to higher postage prices, and a lower quality of service to the public." What Happens Next USPS customers will notice that stamps are at least 5 cents more expensive this week. Regular service users are likely to be watching to see whether more USPS changes are planned, either politically or financially, in the future.
Economic Times
13-07-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Cost of higher stamp prices now in effect: USPS increases first-class forever stamp to 78 cents
The United States Postal Service raises first-class forever stamp prices from 73 cents to 78 cents as part of ongoing financial reforms. The United States Postal Service (USPS) increased the price of first-class forever stamps by 5 cents on Sunday, July 13, moving from 73 cents to 78 cents. The higher stamp prices are now in effect nationwide. ADVERTISEMENT According to Marti Johnson, a senior USPS representative, the price hike represents a 'rational and realistic approach' as the Postal Service continues efforts to address long-term financial challenges. USPS originally submitted its request for the rate adjustment to the Postal Regulatory Commission in April. Also read: Wire & cable stocks in focus after Trump's copper tariff triggers sharp price surge The agency's latest increase reflects ongoing efforts to achieve financial self-sufficiency after a decade marked by significant operational and financial hurdles. Former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who left his position in March, previously cautioned postal customers about the likelihood of 'uncomfortable' rate hikes moving forward. DeJoy argued that the increases were necessary due to 'at least 10 years of a defective pricing model.' DeJoy's resignation ended a nearly five-year tenure that included efforts to overhaul USPS's pricing and operational strategies. His departure came after discussions within President Donald Trump's administration and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency about potentially privatizing the Postal Service to address long-standing financial issues. Following DeJoy's resignation in March, Deputy Postmaster General Doug Tulino has assumed the role of acting Postmaster General while the Postal Service Board of Governors continues the search for a permanent replacement. Also read: Bitcoin price surges to record high: Trump's policies and bullish bets send BTC soaring past $113,000 ADVERTISEMENT Trump had considered placing USPS under the control of the Commerce Department in an attempt to curb financial losses at the $78 billion-per-year federal agency. USPS has faced persistent fiscal challenges tied to the ongoing decline in first-class mail usage and shifts in consumer workers across the country have actively pushed back against proposals to privatize the Postal Service, voicing concerns over potential job losses and service delays that could result from sweeping structural changes. The latest stamp price hike is part of USPS's broader financial strategy as it works to stabilize operations and modernize services in response to market conditions. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) (Catch all the US News, UK News, Canada News, International Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily International News Updates. NEXT STORY
