Postal officials said next week is the final window to mail holiday gifts and cards in time for recommended delivery dates, they stated in a release.
Dec. 10 (UPI) — The United States Postal Service on Wednesday issued its holiday operating schedule heading into the new year.
Postal officials said next week is the final window to mail holiday gifts and cards in time for recommended delivery dates, they stated in a release.
According to USPS, its customer traffic has climbed steadily since the first of the month, and this week is projected to be the busiest of the year at post offices nationwide.
USPS offices nationwide will close on Christmas Day and New Year's Day on Jan. 1.
Related
Priority Mail Express packages can be delivered on Christmas Day in certain areas, but with customers paying an additional fee for the holiday service.
Meanwhile, regular mail delivery and operations will resume the day after Christmas. USPS officials advised customers to check local post offices for operating hours on January 2.
The U.S. Postal Service has been gearing up for the holiday peak since January to, according to USPS, bolster capacity in processing, logistics and delivery through nationwide modernization.
USPS delivered 45% more packages and over 350 million mail pieces per operating day last year in December, and converted nearly 232,000 employees to full time roles since 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic unraveled U.S. society.
The federally independent postal agency added it's integrating people, technology, transportation, equipment and facilities into a streamlined network to handle customer demands during the busy season and beyond it.
It services more than 170 million addresses six and often seven days a week and generally receives no tax dollars for USPS expenses, instead relying on postage sales, products and other services to fund its operations.
America's postal service said it outperformed its competitors during last holiday season due to network improvements.
It opened nearly 200 processing facilities nationwide over the past four years, including new USPS sites this year in Dallas, Phoenix, Johnson City, Tennessee and in other cities.
On Tuesday, the USPS advised Americans to “don't fall for texts pretending to be us.”
“If you get one, delete it and avoid clicking any links,” the postal service said on social media.
