Keeping mail affordable

The Postal Service is adjusting its size to align with our customers’ needs to keep mail affordable. This means making better use of space, staffing, equipment and transportation.

After peaking in 2006, mail volumes have declined by over 25 percent since then, so we don’t need as many mail processing facilities as we once did. We’ve consolidated more than 350 mail processing facilities since 2006.

We’ve also consolidated or reduced 19,549 delivery routes during the past few years, including 1,847 in 2013. This reduces gasoline costs, as well as wear and tear on Postal Service vehicles.