Note 1 - Description of Business

Nature of Operations

The United States Postal Service provides mail service to the public, offering a variety of classes of mail services without undue discrimination among its many customers. This means that within each class of mail our price does not unreasonably vary by customer for the levels of service we provide. This fulfills our legal mandate to offer universal service at a fair price. Our primary lines of business are First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, Priority Mail, International Mail, Express Mail, Periodicals and Package Services. The principal markets for these services are the communications, distribution and delivery, advertising and retail markets. Our products are distributed through more than 37,000 Post Offices, stations and branches, contract postal units and a large network of consignees. We conduct our significant operations primarily in the domestic market, with international operations representing less than 3% of our total revenue.

Our labor force is primarily represented by the American Postal Workers Union, National Association of Letter Carriers, National Postal Mail Handlers Union and National Rural Letter Carriers Association. Almost 90% of our career employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements. The agreements with the major unions expire November 20, 2006.

By law, we also consult with management organizations representing most of the employees not covered by collective bargaining agreements. These consultations provide an opportunity to participate directly in the planning, development, and implementation of programs and policies affecting the managerial employees in the field. The management organiza-tions include the National Association of Postal Supervisors, National League of Postmasters, and National Association of Postmasters of the United States. We participate in federal employee benefit programs covering retirement, health benefits, and workers’ compensation.

Postal Reorganization

We commenced operations on July 1, 1971, in accordance with the provisions of the Postal Reorganization Act (the Act). The equity that the U.S. government held in the former Post Office Department became our initial capital. We valued the assets of the former Post Office Department at original cost less accumulated depreciation. The initial transfer of assets, including property, equipment and cash, totaled $1.7 billion. Subsequent cash contributions and transfers of assets between 1972 and 1982 totaled approximately $1.3 billion, resulting in total government contributions of approximately $3 billion. The U.S. government remained responsible for all the liabilities attributable to operations of the former Post Office Department; however, under the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, the remaining liability for Post Office Department workers’ compensation costs was transferred to us.

Although we are excluded from the U.S. government budgetary process, we do enter into significant transactions with other government agencies, as disclosed throughout these financial statements.

Price Setting Process

Since 1971, the Act has required us to establish prices that cover the costs of operating the postal system. The Act established the independent Postal Rate Commission with oversight responsibility for mail prices, subject to approval by the Governors of the Postal Service. The ratemaking process provides for the recovery of financial losses through future rate increases.

Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Accounting and Use of Estimates

We maintain our accounting records and prepare our financial statements on the accrual basis of accounting. This basis conforms to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Following these principles, we make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts we report in the financial statements and notes. Actual results may differ from our estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents are securities that mature within 90 days or less from the date we buy them. We recognize checks outstanding as a current liability until presented for payment.

Current Values of Financial Instruments

The current value of our debt is what it would cost to pay off the debt if we used the current yield on equivalent U.S. Treasury debt.

We have foreign currency risk related to the settlement of terminal dues and transit fees with foreign postal administra-tions for international mail. The majority of our international accounts are denominated in special drawing rights (SDRs). The SDR exchange rate fluctuates daily based on a basket of currencies comprised of the euro, the Japanese yen, the pound sterling and the U.S. dollar. Changes in the relative value of these currencies will increase or decrease the value of our settlement accounts and result in a gain or loss from revaluation reported in the results from operations. The actual currency used to settle accounts varies by country.