NRF: Congress Must Take Action to Avert Catastrophic Rail Strike (mytotalretail.com)

FY23 first quarter service performance scores covering Oct. 1 through Dec. 9 included: *First-Class Mail: 91.7 percent of First-Class Mail delivered on time against the USPS service standard, a decrease of 1.4 percentage points from the fiscal fourth quarter. The current data reflects a year over year increase of one percentage point compared to the same period in the FY22 peak holiday season. *Marketing Mail: 94.1 percent of Marketing Mail delivered on time against the USPS service standard, a slight decrease of 0.7 percentage points from the fiscal fourth quarter. The current data reflects a year over year increase of 1.9 percentage points compared to the same period in the FY22 peak holiday season. *Periodicals: 85.5 percent of Periodicals delivered on time against the USPS service standard, a decrease of 1.3 percentage points from the fiscal fourth quarter. The current data reflects a year over year increase of 3.5 percentage points compared to the same period in the FY22 peak holiday season.

A summary of results for the second quarter ended August 1, 2020 as compared the second quarter ended August 3, 2019: *Net sales of $698 million, down 17% as compared to last year, reflecting the adverse impact of COVID-19 on store sales. *Gross profit rate improved 140 basis points to 60.7% on lower promotional and clearance activity. *Operating income improved to $14 million and $22 million on a reported and adjusted non-GAAP basis, respectively, as compared to an operating loss last year of $39 million, which reflected $45 million of flagship store exit charges. *Net income per diluted share improved to $0.09 and $0.23 on a reported and adjusted non-GAAP basis, respectively, as compared to net loss per diluted share last year of $0.48, which reflected the adverse impact from flagship store exit charges of approximately $0.50 per diluted share, net of estimated tax effect.

The United States Postal Service filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) of mailing services price changes to take effect July 9, 2023. The new rates include a three-cent increase in the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp from 63 cents to 66 cents. If favorably reviewed by the Commission, the proposed increases will raise First-Class Mail prices approximately 5.4 percent to offset the rise in inflation. The price changes have been approved by the Governors of the U.S. Postal Service. The price for 1-ounce metered mail will increase to 63 cents, and the price to send a domestic postcard will increase to 51 cents. A 1-ounce letter mailed to another country would increase to $1.50. There will be no change to the single-piece letter and flat additional-ounce price, which remains at 24 cents. The Postal Service is also seeking price adjustments for Special Services products including Certified Mail, Post Office Box rental fees, money order fees and the cost to purchase insurance when mailing an item.