Postal Reform Effects Minimized for Graphic Arts

Financial/Transactional Printing

Work-shared financial/ transactional mail accounted for about 53% of First Class letters and cards in 2005. It is no secret that the greatest effect on First Class financial/transactional printing volume comes from electronic diversion, such as automatic debit, online banking and electronic bills. According to the United States Postal Service (USPS), in the three years leading up to 2005, approximately four billion pieces of mail were eliminated from the First Class mailstream, and another four billion pieces will be removed between 2005 and 2008. In total, the USPS estimates that electronic diver-sion has reduced First Class Mail volume by 30% since 1988. While First Class financial/ transactional workshared mail will continue to erode with a forecasted decrease of 8.6% over the next three years, there will be no apparent decline solely due to the recently enacted postal reforms. (Note: PRIMIR has launched a study to investi-gate the future of Financial/ Transactional printing; the results will be revealed during the PRIMIR Spring Meeting held during the NPES 2008 INDUSTRY SUMMIT.)