U.S.Postal Service--monopoly? and other questions

[Duck_Duck_Goose]

MannyL, thank you for asking. Just “Downstate Illinois”, that’s all.

When the Post Office runs in the black, it makes the news. From July of 1999.

http://www.foxmarketwire.com/071599/stampside.sml

Postal Service Running in the Black, So Far

WASHINGTON — Three-quarters of the way through its fiscal year, the post office is $1 billion in the black.

But usually, it’s more like this. From November of 1995.

SIGNED AND SEALED - BUT CAN EVA DELIVER?

The U.S. Postal Service has been awash in red ink for years. Can a new performance metric turn things around?

August of 2000.

USPS May Post First Loss Since 1994

When the U.S. Postal Service’s fiscal year 2001 ends on Sept. 30, the agency’s top executive expects it to post its first annual loss in six years. Postmaster General William Henderson told the Associated Press on Aug. 29 that the loss could be as high as $300 million. If that happens, mailers could expect not only a rate increase early next year but perhaps an even bigger increase in 2003.

January 8, 2001

The USPS said revenue for accounting period three – Nov. 4 to Dec. 1 – in fiscal 2001 was $5.01 billion, or 2.4 percent below budget and 0.1 percent less than the same period a year ago. Expenses totaled $5.1 billion, or 0.1 percent below budget and 5.5 percent more than last year. For AP3, the USPS had a $91.7 million loss. So far in fiscal 2001, the USPS’ net income of $245.9 million is $141.8 million below budget and $570 million less than last year’s figure of $816.4 million.

And bear in mind that there’s a lot of creative bookkeeping that goes on, just like in any other government agency.
FYI: http://www.postalwatch.org/
http://www.postalfamily.com/
http://www.usps.gov/