The U.S Postal Service announced on Monday that they will be shutting down 252 mail processing centers. First class mail is expected to slow down by next spring causing a decrease in mail.

    The cuts are part of a $3 billion reduction plan being made by the Postal Services to help avoid bankruptcy in the upcoming year. The elimination of the mail processing centers will result in about 28,000 job losses nationwide. Studies show that people depend less on first-class mail since technological convention such as emails, text messages, and telephones, are a faster way of communication. In 2006 first class mail volume reached 98 million. Currently, the mail volume has dropped to 78 million. Furthermore, delivery standards will be decreased.
    Typically, it takes one to three days for mail to arrive to a person or business. Standards will be lowered down causing the mail arrival to slow down to two to three days. As for periodicals, they could take anywhere between two to nine days to arrive to their destination. In addition, first class mail will also see an increase in price. On January 22, the price will rise one cent to $0.45. This will affect those who pay bills by check, send cards, receive DVDs by mail, and more.