This article accompanies 'You've Got Maelstrom'
1970: The modern United States Postal Service was created by Congress, changing the post office from a taxpayer-supported federal agency to a quasi-governmental organization charged with operating as a business, independent of taxpayer support.
1983: First year the U.S.P.S. operated without taxpayer support.
Mail volume:
2006 -- 213 billion pieces
2009 -- 177 billion pieces
2020 -- 150 billion pieces (projected)
Career full-time/ part-time workers: 585,000
Facilities nationwide: 33,000
Vehicles: 210,000 (180,000 operated by letter carriers)
2009 Operating expenses: $71.8 billion
2009 Revenue: $68 billion
2009 Loss: $3.8 billion
Yearly health-benefit payments for future retirees: About $5.5 billion
Yearly health-benefit payments for current retirees: About $2 billion