Cuts Will Slow First Class Mail Delivery

The US Postal Service has announced drastic cuts that will slow first class mail delivery next spring. This will eliminate the chance for stamped letters to arrive the next day for the first time in 40 years.

The $3 billion in cuts are part of an effort by the Postal Service to avoid bankruptcy. About half of the nearly 500 mail processing centers could be closed as early as next March. This would lengthen the distance mail travels from post office to procesing center and lower delivery standards that have been in place since 1971.

First class mail currently is supposed to be delivered in one to three days. That will be lengthened to two to three days. About 42% of first class mail is now delivered the next day. After the change next spring, about 51% of all first class mail is expected to arrive in two days, with most of the rest delivered in three days.