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Post Office Weighs Hundreds of Branch Closings
By Rob Quinn
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Posted Aug 4, 09 1:19 AM CDT
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(Newser)
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The US Postal Service is considering closing or consolidating hundreds of stations and branches across the country as mail volumes continue to plummet, AP reports. Managers have been told to review the activities of over 3,000 postal outlets nationwide and consider factors like customer service, real estate values, and the impact on employees in deciding whether to declare them candidates for closure.
A list of some 700 locations that could be closed or their activities reduced has been sent to regulators, and more are expected to follow. The Postal Service—which faces a potential loss of $7 billion this fiscal year despite a rise in the price of stamps—is struggling as businesses and individuals continue to switch to email. Snail mail volume is expected to shrink by an eighth this year alone.