USPS begins partial slowdown this week in cost cutting measure

The United States Postal Service began its planned slowdown in mail delivery across the United States this week, which postal executives hope will help keep costs down for the notoriously expensive federal agency.

Almost half of all first-class mailings will see a drop from a three-day delivery guarantee in the United States to a five-day guarantee. Locally delivered courier will always maintain guaranteed two-day delivery.

Mail delivery “will be slower than in the 1970s,” an expert told CBS News.

The measure is one of several measures to avert what is expected to be a loss of $ 160 billion for the agency over the next decade.