The high unemployment rate along with slow economic growth, continue to impact consumer confidence, increasing economic risk.
In addition, the looming “fiscal cliff” and its threats of significant federal taxincreases and government spending reductions has further increased economic uncertainty, affecting the improving, but still weak, levels of consumer and business spending.
The ongoing European economic crisis, which began in 2011, also continues to be a significant drag on international economic growth due to lower economic output from the region.
The USPS business, financial position, and results of operations will continue to be adversely impacted to the extent that the US and other countries experience slow economic
growth.