U.S. Postal Service Performance at All-Time First-Quarter High

Northern Virginia Performance Cluster

Merrifield Virginia — National on-time performance scores for the delivery of First-Class Mail hit all-time first-quarter highs this fiscal year for two of the three categories the Postal Service tracks. National overnight service was 96 percent on time — the first time this score has been maintained for three quarters in a row — and two-day service was 93 percent on time. This is the first time these top scores have been achieved in the first quarter. Three-day performance was 88 percent, a two-point improvement over the same period last year and only the second time that score has been achieved in quarter 1.

First-Class Mail performance is measured independently by IBM Global Business Services. The process measures First-Class Mail from the time it is deposited into a collection box until it is delivered to a home or business

“These are excellent service scores for the first quarter,” said Postmaster General John Potter. ”Especially given winter weather conditions and the time frame being our busiest mailing season.”

Seven Postal Service districts led the nation with 97 percent or better on-time scores for overnight delivery. They are: Baltimore, which represents the city of Baltimore and the Central, Western, and Eastern Shore portions of Maryland; Big Sky, which represents the state of Montana; the Dakotas, comprised of North and South Dakota and northwest Minnesota; Mid-Carolinas, which serves the southern 50 counties in North Carolina and a portion of South Carolina which is south of Charlotte; North Florida; Spokane, which includes eastern Washington state and Idaho; and Suncoast, comprised of Tampa, St. Petersburg, Ft. Myers, Naples, Lakeland, Sarasota and Brooksville in Southwest Florida. The Northern Illinois District encompassing ZIP Codes 600, 601, 602, 603, 611 achieved a 96 percent for overnight delivery.

Northern Virginia District is on target for an outstanding service year with overnight delivery scores exceedingthe same period last year by .17%. So far this year, Northern Virginia overnight delivery performance is .39% higher than the national average.

During the same period, residential customer satisfaction was measured at 92 percent. Ten of the Postal Service’s districts earned 96 percent or better for customer satisfaction. They are: Albany, comprised of the northern, eastern, and central portions of New York state; Western New York, which represents the western portion of New York state, including Buffalo and Rochester; Central Pennsylvania, which serves the cities of Harrisburg, Lancaster, Hershey, York, Reading, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Allentown, and Williamsport; the Dakotas, comprised of North and South Dakota and northwest Minnesota; Greater Michigan, which represents most of the state, excluding metro Detroit, Flint, Jackson and the western Upper Peninsula; Hawkeye, which includes most of Iowa and the Quad-City communities of Illinois; Honolulu, made up of the state of Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Saipan, Rota and Tinian; Lakeland, in the Great Lakes Area; the state of Maine; and Southeast Michigan, which includes the greater Flint area and most of the metro Detroit area.

The Northern Virginia District has been ranked as a 5 STAR customer service district for the past 8 quarters attaining ‘Silver’ status. The 5 STAR awards are based on customer surveys conducted by the Gallup Organization.

“We're pleased our local scores are strong, and every day we reinforce our commitment to providing a high level of customer service,” said Michael Furey, District Manager, Northern Virginia.

EXFC Overnight Service Results

October 1 Through December 31, 2007 (PQ1, FY 2008)

EXFC externally measures collection box to mailbox delivery performance. EXFC continuously tests a panel of 463 ZIP Code areas selected on the basis of geographic and volume density from which 90 percent of First-Class Mail volume originates and 80 percent destinates. EXFC is not a system-wide measurement of all First-Class Mail performance.

*Alaska has no overnight standard. Score shown is for two-day performance.

**Results for Louisiana do not include ZIP Codes 700 and 701. These were suspended in fiscal year 2008 due to the impact of Hurricane Katrina.