the USPS continues its slide into obsolescence

From the AP's Randolph Schmid (hat tip: C-J)...

The post office is renewing its drive to drop Saturday delivery – and plans a rate increase – in an effort to fend off a projected $7 billion loss this year.

Without drastic action the agency could face a cumulative loss of $238 billion over 10 years, Postmaster General John Potter said...But, he added, "all is not lost ... we can right this ship."...

As Americans turn more and more from paper to electronic communications, the number of items handled by the post office fell from 213 billion in 2006 to 177 billion last year. Volume is expected to shrink to 150 billion by 2020. At the same time, the type of material sent is shifting from first-class mail to the less lucrative standard mail, such as advertising....

"We need to walk slowly and very, very careful" in raising prices, Potter said, noting that increases can also drive business away....

Ooooh, concerns about the price elasticity of demand for the USPS' services. Nice!