Busiest mail day of the year
The busiest mail day of the year is typically December 12th, also known as "Mailing Madness" or "Peak Mail Day". This is because it's the last day for the United States Postal Service (USPS) to guarantee delivery of first-class mail and packages by December 25th for Christmas.
On this day, the USPS processes an estimated 650 million pieces of mail, including letters, cards, packages, and gifts. This is a significant increase from the average daily volume of around 500 million pieces of mail.
The surge in mail volume is due to several factors, including:
- Last-minute holiday shopping: Many people wait until the last minute to send gifts, cards, and packages to loved ones.
- Holiday cards and letters: Families and friends often send traditional holiday cards and letters to share their greetings and well-wishes.
- Online shopping: The rise of e-commerce has led to an increase in package deliveries, with many online retailers offering expedited shipping options to ensure timely delivery.
To handle the increased volume, the USPS typically hires temporary workers, increases its sorting capacity, and implements special procedures to ensure timely delivery of mail and packages.