USPS Ready to Deliver Holiday Cheer

The U.S. Postal Service announced it was ready to deliver a lot of cheer — in the form of roughly 16 billion cards, letters and packages — this holiday season.

The U.S. Postal Service, the largest e-commerce deliverer, is projecting about 750 million packages will be delivered this holiday season, a 12-percent increase in volume compared to last year.

While the U.S. Postal Service already delivers packages on Sunday in most major cities, following the success of past holiday seasons, it will expand Sunday delivery operations to all locations with high package volumes beginning November 27. More than five million packages are expected to be delivered each Sunday in December. Letter carriers also will deliver packages on Christmas Day in select locations.

Busiest Mailing and Delivery Days
The U.S. Postal Service predicts that Monday, December 19, will be the busiest mailing and shipping day for holiday packages, letters and cards. Thursday, December 22, is expected to be the busiest delivery day for holiday packages, cards and letters. The Postal Service anticipates nearly 30 million packages will be delivered on the peak delivery day alone.

Skip the Trip and Ship Online
December 19 will also be the U.S. Postal Service’s busiest day online with more than seven million customers predicted to visit usps.com that day alone. Customers can avoid holiday hassles by visiting usps.com — the U.S. Postal Service’s website that will help make mailing and shipping easier than ever.

Millions of customers will skip the trip to the Post Office altogether and take advantage of convenient online shipping this holiday season. Click-N-Ship and other online services allow customers to order free Priority Mail boxes, print shipping labels, purchase postage and even request free next-day Package Pickup from the letter carrier.

Holiday Advertising Campaign
The 2016 holiday campaign emphasizes the proud tradition of delivering cheer and the value the U.S. Postal Service offers consumers and businesses during the holidays. The U.S. Postal Service holiday campaign will feature direct mail, TV, radio, print, digital and social media promotions.

2016 Christmas Shipping Deadlines
 
The U.S. Postal Service recommends the following mailing and shipping deadlines:

• Nov. 7      – APO/FPO/DPO USPS Retail Ground
• Dec. 9      – APO/FPO/DPO Priority Mail & First-Class Mail
• Dec. 15    – USPS Retail Ground
• Dec. 20    – First-Class Mail
• Dec. 21    – Priority Mail
• Dec. 23    – Priority Mail Express