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United Nations Reports Dramatic Reduction in Postal Services

VOA News

   Research by the United Nations has revealed a 21% drop in postal volume
   during the first half of 2020.

   A press release from the Universal Postal Union, the U.N. subsidiary
   that compiled the report, attributed the drop to widespread disruption
   caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

   U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Postmaster General Megan Brennan attributed
   the drop to distressed businesses cutting back on sending
   advertisements and catalogs.

   The U.N. data explored the period between January 23 and May 14 and
   noted that one of every 2.1 items mailed arrived at their destination
   within the same week. Mailings normally arrive at a rate of one of
   every 1.1 items per week.

   The report comes as several postal services, including the USPS, endure
   existential financial battles.

   CNBC, the U.S. cable network, reported that the USPS has not turned a
   profit in over 10 years, recording $83 billion in losses from 2006 to
   2020. In April, the USPS predictedthat its funds would run out by
   September if it did not receive at least $75 billion in congressional
   aid.

   In a statement to the House Oversight and Reform Committee, Brennan
   said the USPS is positioned to lose $13 billion because of the
   pandemic.