USPS Reports FY16 Financial Results

• Net loss of $5.6 billion, driven by mandated retiree health benefits expenses
• Controllable income of $610 million
• Continued double-digit growth in revenue and volume in the Shipping and Packages business
• Enactment of postal reform legislation remains urgently needed

After accounting for a $5.8 billion retiree health benefit prefunding obligation, the U.S. Postal Service posted a net loss of approximately $5.6 billion for fiscal year 2016 (Oct. 1, 2015 – Sept. 30, 2016), as compared to a $5.1 billion net loss for the year ended September 30, 2015. Excluding this prefunding obligation, the Postal Service would have recorded net income of approximately $200 million in 2016.

“To drive growth in revenue and better serve our customers, we continue to invest in the future of the Postal Service by leveraging technology, improving processes and adjusting our network,” said Postmaster General and CEO Megan J. Brennan. “In 2016, we invested $1.4 billion, an increase of $206 million over 2015, to fund some of our much-needed building improvements, vehicles, equipment and other capital projects.”

The Shipping and Packages business continued its strong performance with revenue growth of $2.4 billion, or 15.8 percent. This was offset by a decline in First-Class Mail revenue of $925 million, or 3.3 percent, due largely to the exigent surcharge expiration and continuing electronic migration. These two trends, together with steady standard or advertising mail revenues, and a slight increase in other revenues account for the $1.6 billion growth in operating revenue.

“The Postal Service continues to win e-commerce customers and grow our package delivery business. We deliver more e-commerce packages to the home than any other shipper because of our predictable service, enhanced visibility and competitive pricing,” said Brennan.

Overall, the Postal Service reported operating revenue of $70.4 billion for 2016, excluding a $1.1 billion change in accounting estimate recorded during the year. This equates to an increase of $1.6 billion, or 2.3 percent, over last year. Revenue growth was achieved despite the April 2016 expiration of the exigent surcharge mandated by the Postal Regulatory Commission. As a result of this expiration, revenue for 2016 was lower by approximately $1 billion than what it otherwise would have been. Going forward, without the surcharge, the Postal Service expects its revenue to decline from what it otherwise would be by almost $2 billion per year.

Despite the positive trends in some aspects of its business, the net loss suffered by the Postal Service this year cannot be ignored. Even with continued proactive and aggressive management, such losses are likely to persist for the foreseeable future because of mandated costs such as an unaffordable retiree health benefits program that is not fully integrated with Medicare, and an ineffective pricing system.

“This is why legislative and regulatory reforms remain critical for us to meet the needs of the American public now and well into the future,” said Brennan.

Operating expenses increased in 2016 compared to last year. In addition to a $922 million increase in workers' compensation expense, compensation and benefits expenses increased  by approximately $1.2 billion and transportation costs increased by $413 million. The growth in labor and transportation costs is largely due to the increase in Shipping and Packages volumes, which are more labor-intensive to process and require greater transportation capacity than mail. Transportation expense also increased to significantly improve service levels in 2016.

Controllable income for 2016 was $610 million compared to $1.2 billion for last year. In the day-to-day operation of its business, the Postal Service focuses on controllable income, which takes into account the impact of operational expenses including compensation and benefits; but does not reflect factors such as the legally-mandated expense to prefund retiree health benefits or the change in accounting estimate noted above.