SALES DOUBLE. The Postal Store keeps setting new records. The USPS online site rang up more than $12 million in sales this holiday season, doubling last season's total of $6 million. "Our customers have discovered the ease and security of placing an order online with USPS," said Online Service Manager Norm Cloher, "and the convenience of having it delivered by Priority Mail." The Postal Store is located at www.usps.com/shop.

ANOTHER MILESTONE. The USPS Centralized Account Processing System — CAPS — achieved a major milestone when it recorded more than $1 billion in payment activity in a single four-week accounting period in October. CAPS is an electronic payment system that provides business mailers with a centralized, convenient and cost-effective way to make postage payments. It provides electronic payment alternatives for customers and eliminates their need to pay in person at local post offices using checks or cash.

CAPS highlights the need of postal customers for flexible postage payment options. In addition, a customer's national CAPS account can be used to pay for mailings at multiple locations, eliminating the need for maintaining trust accounts at numerous post offices. In the future, the PostalOne! system will consolidate and integrate the CAPS function nationwide. Additional information is available at http://caps.usps.gov.

STAMP COOL-LECTING. The appeal of stamp collecting for young people is emphasized in USPS Publication 192, Stamp Cool-Lecting 1-2-3, which has been revised into a more compact brochure for easier distribution. Customers, schools and libraries should contact their local post offices regarding the availability of the brochure, described in the Dec. 26, 2002, Postal Bulletin, which can be accessed at www.usps.com.