Quarterly Performance for Periodicals
Service Variance
Mailpieces Delivered Between 10/01/2017 and 12/31/2017

Overview

Periodicals performance is measured via the Intelligent Mail® Accuracy and Performance System (iMAPS) using the documented arrival time at a designated postal facility to start the measurement clock, and an Intelligent Mail® barcode (IMB®) scan by an external, third-party reporter to stop-the-clock. Mail piece tracking from IMB® in-process scans is used in conjunction with the external data to extrapolate results to the entire volume of Periodicals with Full-Service Intelligent Mail®. Data collected by U.S. Postal Service® are provided to an independent, external contractor to calculate service measurement and compile the necessary reports.

The external contractor determines service performance based on the elapsed time between the start-the-clock event recorded by U.S. Postal Service® and the stop-the-clock event recorded by anonymous households and small businesses that report delivery information directly to the contractor. The service measure consists of two parts: (1) how long mail pieces take to get through processing, and (2) how long mail takes from the last processing scan to delivery. The second portion is used as a delivery factor differential to determine the percent of all Periodicals delivered on the last processing date versus the percent delivered after the last processing date. Service performance is measured by comparing the transit time to USPS® service standards to determine the percent of mail delivered on time.

The Service Performance Measurement (SPM) application of the Full-Service Seamless Acceptance and Service Performance system (SASP) serves as the data source for iMAPS. SPM captures data from all Full-Service Intelligent Mail® and applies business rules for service measurement before sending data to iMAPS.

Service performance measurement was suspended for mail originating from or destined to the Caribbean District in FY 2018 Quarter 1 due to the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Limitations

Data for the delivery factor were based on a combination of Periodicals with IMB® and External First-Class Mail® (EXFC) Measurement System flat-shaped test pieces received by external reporters. The EXFC data were used to supplement the Periodicals data available during this period.

Performance Highlights

National Periodicals service performance was 82.1 percent on time, which is 0.3 points higher than the same period last year. Eastern Area led the nation with 86.1 percent on time in FY 2018 Quarter 1.

In FY 2018 Quarter 1, 92.2 percent of Periodicals were delivered within the service standard plus one day, 95.6 percent within the service standard plus two days, and 97.3 percent within the service standard plus three days. Individual areas achieved at least 90.1 percent delivery within the service standard plus one day, and as much as 97.9 percent within three days.