$18 billion in special privileges boost Post Office against rivals like FedEx, UPS

Special privileges and tax subsidies from federal and state governments add an estimated $18 billion advantage against private sector rivals like FedEx and UPS in addition to the United States Postal Service’s First Class mail delivery monopoly.

The $18 billion comes through tax breaks and other privileges such as exclusive usage of mailboxes, giving it huge advantages over its private competitors, according to a report made public Wednesday by Sonecon, an economic advisory firm founded by former Undersecretary of Commerce Robert Shapiro.