The Postal Service has reported its financial results for fiscal year 2026 (Oct. 1, 2025-Sept. 30, 2026). Here are the highlights:
• Revenue. Total operating revenue was $82.9 billion, an increase of 3 percent compared with the previous fiscal year. First-Class Mail revenue increased 1.2 percent, while Marketing Mail revenue increased 5.3 percent. Shipping and packages revenue increased 5.1 percent.
• Volume. Total volume was 105 billion pieces, down 3.3 percent from the previous fiscal year. First-Class Mail volume declined 5.1 percent, while Marketing Mail volume declined 1.1 percent. Shipping and packages volume declined 5.3 percent.
• Expenses. Total operating expenses were $89.4 billion, a decrease of 0.4 percent compared with the previous fiscal year. The overall decrease in operating expenses was primarily because of an actuarial revaluation of existing workers’ compensation cases and discount rates on workers’ compensation costs, as well as a decrease in retirement expenses. These were partially offset by higher compensation and benefits expenses, rising fuel costs, accrued retiree health benefits top-up expenses, and an increase in other operating expenses.
• Controllable loss. Excluding certain expenses that are not controllable by management, the controllable loss was $2.4 billion for the year, compared with $2.7 billion for the previous fiscal year. The net loss for the year under generally accepted accounting principles totaled $6.5 billion, compared with a net loss of $9 billion for the previous fiscal year. The decrease in net loss is attributed to an operating revenue increase of $2.4 billion, a decrease of $2.4 billion in workers’ compensation expenses and a $277 million decrease in retirement expenses. These improvements were partially offset by increases in transportation expenses of $225 million, compensation and benefits of $456 million, retiree health benefits of $726 million, and other operating expenses of $894 million.
“While the Postal Service continues to face systemic challenges associated with the business model and regulatory framework established by Congress, the results we are reporting for the year demonstrate solid improvements in revenue generation, cost control and service performance,” Postmaster General David Steiner said.
“Because of our ongoing financial crisis, we are continuing to balance the needs of our daily business operations with our need to conserve cash. We are also seeking legislative actions to establish a better and more durable business model for the Postal Service and for the benefit of the American public we serve,” he said.
The Postal Service’s Nov. 10 news release has more information.
