Fiscal Year 2022 Peak Mailing Season Preparedness

Our objective was to evaluate U.S. Postal Service’s preparedness for the fiscal year (FY) 2022 peak mailing season. Each year, increased mail volume during the Postal Service’s peak mailing season —November through January — significantly strains the Postal Service’s processing and distribution network. During the peak mailing season of FY 2021, package volume increased by about [redacted] million pieces, or 37 percent, compared to package volume during the prior peak mailing season. This increase in packages was largely due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Service performance for all mail classes declined by 13 percent during the FY 2021 peak season, including a nearly [redacted] percent decline in service performance for packages.