Research by the United Nations has revealed a 21% drop in postal volume during the first half of 2020.
A press release from the Universal Postal Union, the U.N. subsidiary that compiled the report, attributed the drop to widespread disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Postmaster General Megan Brennan attributed the drop to distressed businesses cutting back on sending advertisements and catalogs.
The U.N. data explored the period between January 23 and May 14 and noted that one of every 2.1 items mailed arrived at their destination within the same week. Mailings normally arrive at a rate of one of every 1.1 items per week.
The report comes as several postal services, including the USPS, endure existential financial battles.