USPS announces mail delivery slowdown

WASHINGTON — The United States Postal Service announced new delivery standards that will have mail moving more slowly to get to its destination.

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In a news release, USPS said it was implementing the changes to service standards for First-Class packages effective May 1 as part of the agency’s ongoing effort to reduce costs.

The new standards will equate to an extra one to two days for some packages traveling over long distances, though most package delivery times will be unaffected, The Wall Street Journal reported.

“Modifying select service standards is a key growth element and enabler of our 10-year plan,” Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said in a statement. “This action will contribute to our cost savings efforts and improve our reliability across all product classes, including our growing package market.”

USPS is also removing the extra day for Priority Mail packages that are sent via ground, a day that was added in April 2020 due to global supply chain issues.

The change to delivery standards means that USPS will be able to use more trains and trucks to move packages instead of relying on air traffic, which is more costly and less reliable, The Wall Street Journal reported.

In April, USPS filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission of its intent to raise prices for its First-Class rates by 6.5%, which would make a Forever stamp cost 60 cents, up from the current cost of 58 cents, as we previously reported.

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