Impact of postal cuts not severe regionally

Postal Service cuts are expected to have little impact in the Hannibal region.
Nationally, office hours are being reduced, routes are being consolidated and an early retirement program is being offered.
None of that will happen in Northeast Missouri or West-Central Illinois, at least for now.
“Some (post offices) have already changed hours,” said spokeswoman Valerie Hughes. “That’s an ongoing thing.”
The Postal Service ended the fiscal year $2.8 billion in the red because of a required payment to a health benefit fund for retirees. That followed a $5.1 billion loss the previous year.
Mail volume also fell nationally by 9.5 billion pieces. Most of the drop came from traditionally heavy mail users such as banks and retailers.
Almost 3,700 postal workers have accepted early retirement and another 156,000 are eligible. Those who leave will not be replaced.
In the 634 and 623 ZIP Codes of Northeast Missouri and West-Central Illinois, 70 employees are eligible, but Hughes said none have accepted. There are about 600 postal workers in the two zones.
The Postal Service will try to boost revenue by raising shipping costs in January.
There will be increases of 5.7 percent on Express Mail, 3.9 percent on Priority Mail, 5.9 percent on parcel select, 5.3 percent on parcel return service and 8.5 percent on international packages.
The cost of first-class postage went up to 42 cents last May and annual increases are expected to continue, with new prices usually being announced in February.