CHICAGO, IL—Despite continuing economic challenges, the Postal Service continues to deliver high levels of service for customers.

The FY09 third-quarter national performance scores released today show notable improvements for two- and three-day Single-Piece First-Class Mail, and Single-Piece First-Class Mail International. On-time mail delivery was:

• 94 percent for two-day delivery, up 1 percentage point over last quarter
• 93 percent for three-day delivery, up 2 percentage points over last quarter
• 93 percent for First-Class Mail International, an improvement of 4 percentage points over last quarter

Single-Piece First-Class Mail remained at 96 percent on-time overnight delivery. In addition, for the fifth consecutive quarter, 93 percent of customers surveyed rated satisfaction with the Postal Service as “excellent, very good or good.”

Chicago District on-time scores were 96 percent for Single-Piece First-Class Mail overnight delivery, 95 percent for two-day delivery, and 92 percent for three-day delivery.

“Service may be our last name, but it’s our first priority when it comes to meeting the needs of our customers,” said District Manager/Postmaster Gloria Tyson. “These successful delivery scores are the result of postal employees who remain focused on working together day in and day out to give the American public the best service possible. The fact that the Postal Service has maintained high levels of customer service during very difficult economic times demonstrates the commitment and dedication of our employees.”

Since 1990, the Postal Service has contracted with an independent agency to measure First-Class Mail service performance. IBM Global Business Services tracks First-Class Mail from the time it arrives in a collection box or lobby mail chute until it is delivered to a home or business, allowing the Postal Service to monitor performance and improve service for customers.

Note: Click here for a complete list of FY09 third-quarter national performance scores follows.

# # #

Please Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/welcome.htm.

An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 149 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes, six days a week. It has 34,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products and services, not tax dollars, to pay for operating expenses. Named the Most Trusted Government Agency five consecutive years by the Ponemon Institute, the Postal Service has annual revenue of $75 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail.