US Postal Service Reports $5 Billion Loss for Fiscal Year

Seventh-straight year of losses

The beleaguered U.S. Postal Service on Friday reported a $5-billion loss in the last fiscal year and again urged Congress to take legislative action that would help the agency shore up its finances.

The $5-billion loss during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30 comes even as revenue and productivity have improved, the agency said. It's the seventh-straight yearly net loss for the agency, which has seen mail volume drop precipitously in recent years.

Since 2006, the agency has cut its expenses by $15 billion annually, but first-class mail volume has continued to drop. 

"We've achieved some excellent results for the year in terms of innovations, revenue gains and cost reductions, but without major legislative changes we cannot overcome the limitations of our inflexible business model," Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said.