Dive Brief:

• The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) reported that its operating revenues for increased 3.4% in Q1 2015 to reach $18.7 billion. 
• The increase was driven largely by November’s political mailings and a 12.8% increase in holiday shipping and package volume. 
• USPS still reported a net loss of $754 million in the first quarter due to increased operating costs and continued weakness in first-class mail revenues. 

Dive Insight:

E-commerce is one of the Postal Service’s only bright spots, according to its most recent quarterly report. USPS reported that it lost $754 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2015 due to increasing costs and a 1.1% decline in first-class mailings from the first quarter of 2014.

Revenues increased 3.4% to reach $18.7 billion in the first quarter, however, with November election mailings and a 12.8% increase in shipping and package volume during the holidays. With continued growth in e-commerce and more retailers embracing omnichannel strategies, USPS is positioned to take advantage of additional growth in the near future.