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Postal Service in the US Industry Data and Analysis
USPS has been posting sustained losses as mandated nationwide coverage collides with weakening mail demand. Regulations require the agency to deliver across the country even as mail volumes drop, leaving it with high fixed costs that are difficult to scale down. Management has leaned on rate increases to slow revenue erosion, but price changes are tightly regulated and, from 2026, can occur only once per year. Higher prices also appear to contribute to further volume declines, so each climb helps near-term revenue but risks additional mail loss and forgone income that could’ve supported a larger revenue base.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Postal Service industry in the United States includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2016-2031. The most recent publication was released May 2026.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Postal Service industry in the United States operates under the NAICS industry code 49111. This industry includes establishments that are part of the national postal service and perform one or more postal services such as sorting, routing and delivery. Establishments that operate on a contract basis, except for the bulk transportation of mail, are included in this industry. Related terms covered in the Postal Service industry in the United States include postage, e-mail, usps, dominant product and competitive product.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Postal Service industry in the United States include First-class mail, Marketing mail (formerly standard mail) and Shipping and package services.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Postal Service industry in the United States include United States Postal Service.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Postal Service industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Postal Service industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Postal Service industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Postal Service industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Postal Service industry in the United States. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Postal Service industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Postal Service industry in the United States. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Postal Service industry in the United States.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Postal Service industry in the United States in 2026?
The market size of the Postal Service industry in the United States is $78.4bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Postal Service industry in the United States in 2026?
There are 1 businesses in the Postal Service industry in the United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.0 % between 2021 and 2026.
How may import tariffs affect the Postal Service industry in the United States?
The Postal Service industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Postal Service industry in the United States?
The Postal Service industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Postal Service industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Postal Service industry in the United States has been declining at a CAGR of 3.0 % between 2021 and 2026.
What is the forecast growth of the Postal Service industry in the United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Postal Service industry in the United States is expected to decline.
What are the biggest companies in the Postal Service industry in the United States?
The biggest company operating in the Postal Service industry in the United States is United States Postal Service
What does the Postal Service industry in the United States include?
Delivering first-class mail and Shipping and packaging services are part of the Postal Service industry in the United States.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Postal Service industry in the United States?
The company holding the most market share in the Postal Service industry in the United States is United States Postal Service.
How competitive is the Postal Service industry in the United States?
The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Postal Service industry in the United States.
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