Author: Steve Kearney
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The President’s Budget 2018
Good numbers for the federal deficit; questionable USPS business strategies The release of President Trump’s first proposed budget on May 23 garnered a lot of attention. It was titled: “BUDGET OF THE U. S. GOVERNMENT, A New Foundation For American Greatness, Fiscal Year 2018.” The President’s Budget deals extensively with the U.S. Postal Service, an…
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Informed Delivery – Reason for USPS Optimism
The centerpiece of last week’s National Postal Forum (NPF) in Baltimore was Informed Delivery™. Postmaster General Megan Brennan, Executive Vice President and Chief Customer and Marketing Officer James Cochrane, Vice President, Product Innovation Gary Reblin, and Director, Product Technology Innovation, Bob Dixon all expressed great optimism about the new service that marries hard copy and…
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2018 postage picture murky
May 11, 2017 For those nonprofit mailers working on next year’s budgets, the outlook for postage rates is unclear at best. Here are three main factors you need to take into account. One: The regular CPI-capped annual increase We expect next year’s CPI cap to be about 2 percent, double last year’s. But you cannot…
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Mail volume down in quarter: pricing uncertainty
May 11, 2017 The Postal Service reported huge, unexpected declines in the main categories of mail volume for its most recent quarter, January-March 2017. First Class Mail was down 4.2 percent or 674 million pieces. Marketing Mail usage was down 3.5 percent or 682 million items. These percentage volume declines are right in the…
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USPS needs a board—NOW!
May 11, 2017 Postmaster General Megan Brennan made a critically important point in the course of discussing USPS quarterly results. The USPS needs a board to make important decisions. Here is how Federal News Radio reported on her remarks: “The U.S. Postal Service currently has zero independently appointed governors on its board, and hasn’t had…
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Alliance notes
May 11, 2017 Alliance notes San Francisco Chronicle (AP-in many publications): Postal Service, citing losses, seeks higher stamp prices NBC Miami: US Postal Service Looking to Raise Price of First Class Stamp Logistics Management: Despite strides on shipping and packages side, losses continue for USPS Value Walk: Post Office Reveals $562 Million Loss in Latest…
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Hold on! Don’t set next year’s mailing budget just yet–Association TRENDS
2018 postage picture murky: Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers By STEPHEN M. KEARNEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALLIANCE OF NONPROFIT MAILERS | 05/11/2017 SHARE| For those nonprofit mailers working on next year’s budgets, the outlook for postage rates is unclear at best. Here are three main factors you need to take into account. 1. The regular CPI-capped annual…
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Alliance Notes
May 3, 2017 Alliance notes The Salt Lake Tribune: Chaffetz recovering from surgery Linn’s Stamp News: Mailed envelopes illustrate two types of nonprofit discounted rates The Wall Street Journal: UPS Pressured as Rising Costs Outpace Revenue Gains Reuters: Royal Mail considers ways to replace pension plan after union backlash Press Release: PRC Reviews USPS 2016…
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Report from Alliance MTAC reps
May 3, 2017 Informed Delivery This was a hot topic at the April Mailers Technical Advisory Committee session. In case you haven’t heard, Informed Delivery is an opt-in feature to receive e-mail images of the mail pieces to be received in your mail box. The automation sorting equipment captures the image and each morning these…
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International Examples of Mail Profitability
International examples of mail profitability are driven by multi-faceted strategies, of which pricing is one part The USPS Office of Inspector General recently released a research report on the profitability of mail in other countries. It concluded that several smaller nations have found ways to make mail sustainable, albeit at much lower volume levels than…