DOCKET SECTION
BEFORE THE
POSTAL RATE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20268-0001
POSTAL RATE AND FEE CHANGES,
1997
RECEIVEL~
l&J
\
II 50 PH ‘91
*Ey.$,“~~~~~~
RESPONSE OF THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
TO INTERROGATORY
OF THE OFFICE OF THE CONSUMER ADVOCATE
AND MOTION FOR LATE ACCEPTANCE
(OCA/USPS-34)
The United States Postal Service hereby files its responses to the following
interrogatories
September
of the Office of the Consumer Advocate: OCAIUSPS-34.
field
5, 1997.
The interrogatory
is stated verbatim and is followed by the response.
The response is being filed 13 days late, for the reasons expressed in the Postal
Service’s September 29, 1997, motion for late acceptance of its responses to
OCAIUSPS-25,
33, 35, 39, 40.
The Postal Service regrets the delay in providing these responses.
Respectfully submitted,
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
By its attorneys:
Daniel J. Foucheaux, Jr.
Chief Counsel, Ratemaking
Michael T. Tidwell
475 L’Enfant Plaza West, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20260-l 137
October 1,1997
RESPONSE OF THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE TO THE
INTERROGATORIES
OF THE OFFICE OF THE CONSUMER ADVOCATE
OCAIUSPS-34.
Has the Postal Service gathered information on
businesses are likely to provide courtesy reply (CR) envelopes?
a. If your response is afirmative, please provide information on
CR envelope[s] sent out in FY 95 and FY 96.
b. Please provide all information available to the Postal Service
conditions under which businesses provide CR envelopes.
c. Under what specific conditions would usage of CR envelopes
d. Under what specific conditions would usage of CR envelopes
when
the volume of
on the
increase?
decline?
RESPONSE:
a. The Postal Service collects no information on “when” business are likely to
provide courtesy reply envelopes, but we do have information on the quantity
sent out by certain industries from FY 1995 and preliminary FY 1996 Household
Diary Studies.
The attached table 116 is from those studies.
Please note that all
figures on the table represent pieces per week and are in hundred thousands
(add 5 zeros).
’
b. The USPS has not conducted any dedicated market research with
businesses for the sole purpose of determining the conditions under which they
provide CR envelopes.
Logically, when businesses provide return remittance
envelopes, this helps them to speed mail handling and processing and, hence,
funds availability.
c. No information
is currently available to answer this question,
d. The USPS has not conducted research to specifically determine the specific
conditions under which the usage of CR envelopes will decline.
However, we do
know that the use of electronic payments is steadily increasing.
Therefore,
it is
RESPONSE OF THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE TO THE
INTERROGATORIES
OF THE OFFICE OF THE CONSUMER ADVOCATE
possible that as the volume of electronic bill payments increases, the usage of
CR envelopes may well decline.
122
77.2
3.5
1.3
29
19.6
0.7
0.3
7
4.2
t.7
0.1
,317
(4. I
100.0
14.)
-
-
0.16
0.4,
0.0,
0.03
0.19
_
0.01
0 14
_
UNVElGHTEO
HOUSEHoLos
"NYElGHTEO
PIECES
wElGHTE0
HO"SEHOLOS
:,:,:;HTEo
PIECES
(BASE)
3508
37.4
100.0
37.4
YES
0
2.2
,093
50.9
30.9
11.6
24.;
0.1
NO
DON'T
NOT
w4OY/NO
lNO"STRY
ANSWER
MAIL
9.53
7 09
0.10
YEAN
ST0 OE”
ST0 ERFfOR
CHlLTON
RESEPRC”
SERVICES
NO
2.17
2 (9
003
5344
0
05
0.02
0.16
JUNE
0.05
,996
YElGHTEO
NwmERS
ARE
REPORTEO
IN
HUNOREO
THOLJSPINOS
”
s.p
5
HO”SEHOL0
TA8LE
116
FLRST-CLASS
MAlL
F!(ECEI”EO
10
Y&S A RETURN
ENVELOPE/CARD
0
(BASE0
TO FIRST-CLASS
YeilL
ONLY)
"NYElGHTEO
HOUSEHOLOS
"NYEIGHTEO
PIECES
VE,GHTEO
HOUSEHOLOS
YElCHTEO
PIECES
IBASE)
9369
100.0
OIAR”
STUDY
-
DIARY
-
F,sc*L
“‘ELIR
,339
Ioc.0
320
100.0
222
(00.0
215
100.0
59
27.6
I .7
0,6
352
100.0
100
5
20 6
0. I
0. t
I14
51.6
3.3
1.2
NO
4 141
44 2
loo,0
44.2
622
46.5
15.0
6.6
106
33.0
2.6
1.1
99
44.7
2 4
I.,
5
99.5
0. I
9
3.7
2.0
0. I
I
11.5
0. I
,NO"STRY
MAIL
MEAN
ST0 DE”
ST0 ERROR
CHlLTON
RESEARCH
SERVICES
,317
(4. I
100.0
14 I
-
9.53
7 09
0.10
I 36
I 75
0.02
NO.
,994
SEPT.
17.
0.01
o.,o
0.0,
0.09
1995)
I9
22,9
0.5
0.2
206
64.3
9 9
1.2
NO,
19.
5
0
669
49.9
19.0
7.1
ANSWER
5344
249
70.4
7. I
2.6
24
100.0
3508
37 4
100.0
37.4
KNOW/NO
(SEPT.
ENCLOSE0
YES
OON'T
,995
53
69.3
1.3
0.6
2
9.;
1.7
0. I
3.4
0.5
4 :
0. I
-
0.33
0.73
0.01
0.23
0 76
0 01
JUNE
0 22
0 59
0.01
1996
0.36
0.75
0.01
0.02
0.19
0.01
0 09
-
0 08
0.35
0.01
0 07
0.29
0.01
O.,?
YElGHTEO
0.01
0.09
NUMBERS
ARE
REPORTED
IN
HUNDRED
THOUSANDS
“.s
P.S.
HOUSEHOLD
FIRST-CLASS
Yb.,L
RECEIVED
10 - “AS A RETURN
ENVELOPE/CARD
0
,BbSEO
TO FIRST-CLASS
bl**l.
ONL”)
dlAR”
STUD”
DIA.R”
-
FISCAL
“EAR
,995
(SEPT.
19.
1994
SEPT.
17.
1995)
ENCLOSED
FIRST-CLISS
MAIL
RECEIVED
- lND”STR”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
TOTAL
“NYELGHTEO
HOUSEHOLOS
“NVElGHTEO
PIECES
“ElGHTED
HOUSEHOLDS
YE,GH,EO
PIECES
TOTAL
. . . . .
5300
FINAN
CIAL
. . . . .
5300
CREO
BANK SECUR
IT
CARD
. . . . .
5300
S&L
c u.
. . . . .
5300
IT”
BRKR
. . . . .
5300
907
19.6
13.0
9.6
216
20.4
6.2
2.3
95
27.1
2.4
0.9
YONE”
MKT.
. . . . .
5300
7
33.2
0.2
0.1
NO
NO,
WO”,NO
INDUSTRY
TOTAL
GOVT.
. . . . .
5300
32s
40.7
9.3
3.5
23
19.6
0.7
0.2
95
19.9
2.7
I .o
434
94.4
10.5
4.6
97
74.4
2.1
0.9
346
72,3
9.4
3.7
39
4.9
9.9
0.4
ANSWER
FE0
ERAL
.I...
5300
STATE
L0C.L
. . . . .
53cm
TOTAL
SOCL,
CHAR.
.i...
9300
7
6.0
,.7
0.1
37
7 8
9.3
0.4
MAIL
I 09
L5.1
0.02
MEAN
ST0 DE”
ST0 ERIIOR
CH,LTON
REAL
EST.
YORT
CAGE
. . . . .
5300
(BASE)
“ES
DON’T
lNS”R
AWE
CO.
. . . . .
5300
RESEARCH
SERVICES
NO,
5344
JUNE
0.32
LO4
0.0,
1996
0.02
0.19
-
0.91
I 24
0.02
0.12
0 46
0.01
0.49
0,99
0.0,
-
0.49
0.99
0.01
YElGHTED
0.65
1.32
0 02
NUMBERS
ARE
REPORTEO
IN
HUNDREO
THOUSANDS
“.S..P.S.
“DUSEHOLO
0,A.R”
,kBLE
116
FIRST-CLASS
MAIL
RECEIVED
0.
10 - “AS
A RETURN
ENVELOPE/CARD
(0ASEO
TO FIRST-CLISS
WAIL
ONLY)
STUDY
-
DIARY
-
FISCAL
“EAR
,996
YlTH
ADJUSTMEN,
FACTORS
(SEPT.
16,
,996
-
SEP,,
16.
,996)
ENCLOSED
FIRST-CLASS
MAIL
RECEIVED
- IMUSTRY
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
UNYEICHTEO
HOUSEHOLDS
“NYEIGHTED
PIECES
WEIGHTED
WEIGHTED
ME01
CAL
. . ..I
OTHER
PROF.
. . ..I
LEI
SVRE
SERV.
. ..I.
CABLE
TV
I....
COW”
TER
REL.
I....
CRAFT
SMdN
..I..
53w
5300
53cu
53w
5300
5300
69,
5300
s3ca
5300
22,1
2315
2423
915
901
HOUSEHOLDS
996
lw.o
996
loo.0
896
100.0
996
lw.o
996
loo.0
996
lw.o
996
100.0
PIECES
9262
1w.o
2201
too.0
506
lW.0
606
loo.0
638
too.0
104
loo.0
357 1
36.5
loo.0
36.5
I,95
54.3
33.5
12.9
365
72.1
(0.2
3.9
377
74.2
10.6
4. t
220
4,.,
6.2
2.4
3946
42.5
100.0
42.5
679
39.9
22.3
9.5
117
23. I
3.0
1.3
2,.0
2.7
1.2
466
5.0
loo.0
5.0
127
5.9
27.2
t.4
24
4.0
5.2
0.3
24
4.6
5.2
0.3
KNOW/NO
1NO”STR”
(BASE)
ANSWER
RESEARCH
107
CDL
LEC
TION
dOEN
CY
. . . . .
5300
EXTER
M,NA
TOR
. . . . .
FUN
ERAL
HOLIES
/ 6”R
IAL
PLTS
. . . . .
MOTOR
CL”6
. . . . .
5300
6300
5300
(92
126
50
29
3,
996
100.0
996
lw.o
996
100.0
996
100.0
996
loo.0
996
loo.0
203
loo.0
(62
tw.0
lw.o
23
21.6
0.6
0.2
32
15.9
0.9
0.3
120
78.7
3.3
1.3
,I
27.6
0.3
0.1
5
(5.9
0. I
0. I
6
44.6
0.2
0. I
2.96
53.2
7.2
3.1
12
68.6
1.8
0.6
158
77.9
4.0
1.7
26
17.4
0.7
0.3
26
68.7
0.7
0.3
63::
0.5
0.2
49.3
0.2
0.1
30
5.7
6.5
0.3
9.2
2.1
0.1
61:
2.7
0.1
6
3.9
1.3
0.1
3.5
0.3
6
20.5
1.4
0.1
6.0
0.2
10
38
3,
13
loo.0
loo.0
1
6
lw.o
6
,
19
996
lw.o
5
lW.0
73
996
lw.o
4
loo.0
tool;:
2
5
54.6
0.1
34.2
0.1
3
34.5
0. I
65.6
0.1
9
34.:
3
2
59.0
0. I
0.
6.7
0. I
,,.A
0.2
63.6
0.2
0. I
‘I
39.5
0.2
0.1
6.:
0.2
,298
14.0
,W.O
14.0
MAIL
9.32
7.04
0.10
MEAN
ST0 DE”
ST0 ERROR
CHlLTON
5300
ELEC.
GAS
“&TER
..I..
,003.
:o
NOT
5300
PHONE
CO.
-11.1
43993
YES
DON’T
TOTAL
. . . . .
TOT&L
SER
“ICES
. . . . .
OAR
BACE/
TRASH
SER
VICE
. ..I.
SERVICES
ND.
2.22
2.15
0.03
5746
0.51
0.61
0.0,
0.51
0.79
0.01
0.54
1.03
0.01
APRIL
1997
0.10
0.41
0.01
0.20
0.6,
0.01
0.16
0.42
0.01
0.03
0.24
0.03
0.20
-
0.0,
0.,2
-
WEIGHTED
0.0,
0.12
-
_
MlMBERS
0.01
0.00
-
ARE
0.07
REPORTED
0.01
0.15
IN
HUNDRED
THOUSANDS
“.S.P.S.
“OUSEHOLD
DIM?”
TABLE
$16
FIRST-CLASS
YA.IL
RECEIVED
0.
10 - “AS
A G’EWRN
ENVELOPE/CARD
(0ASED
TO FIRST-CLASS
MAIL
ONLY)
STUD”
-
DIARY
-
FISCAL
“EAR
,006
WITH
A.DJUSTYENT
FACTORS
(SEPT.
,El,
,995
-
NULIBERS
ARE
REPORTED
SEPT.
(5,.
,~~~)
ENCLOSE0
FIRST-CLASS
YA,L
RECEIVED
- IH)USTRY
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
TOTAL
SER
“ICES
. . . . .
5x0
“NYEIOHTEO
HOUSEHOLDS
TOTAL
. . . . .
5300
“NVEIGHTEO
PIECES
,3803
10034
STOR
ACE
. . . . .
5300
RESEARCH
SER
“,CES
. ..I.
5300
PHOTO
CRA
PHER
..I..
53w
10
54
24
VElOHTED
HOUSEHOLDS
006
100.0
006
,oo.cl
006
100.0
VEICHTEO
PIECES
0202
100.0
2201
100.0
fW.0
(EASE)
096
mo,o
,
PHOTO
SER
“ICES
I....
5300
12
000
100.0
000
too.0
0
5
DELI”
ERY/
MESS
ENGER
SER
“ICES
. . ..I
5300
DA”
CARE
. . . . .
5300
SECUR
IT”
SYSTEYS
. . ..I
5300
17
B
36
096
too.0
2
too.0
Ioo.0
100.0
0.01
0.,2
0.01
cl.00
0.05
006
(c-3.0
4
100.0
000
100.0
I
too.0
0
too.0
“ES
4
NO
03.3
: “‘r
‘<NOW/NO
&NSYER
466
5.0
103.0
5.0
1298
14.0
100.0
14.0
9.32
7.04
0.10
MEAN
ST0 OE”
STO ERROR
CHlLTON
RESEARCH
SERVICES
NO.
0.
0.7
(27
3.0
27.2
1.4
-
2.22
2.15
0.03
S746
0.05
_
APRIL
1997
_
_
0.00
_
0.03
_
0.0,
0.10
_
YElGHTEO
IN
HUNDRED
THOUSANDS
U.S.P.S.
HOUSEHOLD
DIARY
7A9LE
116
FI,tST-CLASS
MAIL
RECEIVED
0.
10 - WAS A RETURN
ENVELOPE/CARD
(RASEO
TO FIIST-CLASS
MAIL
ONLY)
STUD”
-
DIARY
-
FISCAL
“ELI9
,996
WITH
ADJUSTMENT
FACTORS
(SEPT.
16.
199,
-
SEPT.
(6,
,996,
ENCLOSED
FIRST-CLASS
MAIL
RECEIVED
-
INOUSTR”
.......................................................................
6697
,446
UNYEIGHTEO
HOUSEHOLDS
.. . ..
5300
UNYElGHTED
PIECES
43883
. .. ..
5300
DEPT.
STORE
DISC.
. ... .
5300
MAIL
OROER
. .. ..
5300
939
OTHER
STORE
. .. ..
5300
,049
PUBLI
SHE9
LAND
PROMO
TlON
.. .. .
5300
. . ..I
5300
1600
77
20
.. .. .
5300
WEIGHTED
HOUSEHOLDS
886
100.0
996
100.0
896
loo.0
996
100.0
996
,oo.o
996
1w.o
996
100.0
VE,GHTEO
PIECES
9262
,m.o
,184
1co.o
297
1co.o
202
100.0
216
100.0
333
too.0
100.0
(BASE)
“ES
NO
I
TOTAL
TOTbL
YER
CHANT
DON’T
KNOW/NO
ANSWER
609
51.5
17.1
6.6
108
66.9
6.6
2.1
,I,
M.7
3.1
,.a
54
24.9
1.5
0.6
226
67.7
6.3
2.4
3946
42.5
100.0
42.5
52,
44.3
13.3
5.6
67
29.3
2.2
0.9
04
,i.,
2. I
0.9
i50
69.6
3.0
1.6
94
26.4
2.4
I .o
,66
5.0
100.0
5.0
50
4.2
to.0
0.5
ii
3.0
2.4
0. i
6
4.0
1.7
0. I
,296
(4.0
too.0
14.0
-
9.32
7.0,
0.10
VEIN
510 3E”
ST0 ERR09
CHlLTON
367 1
30.5
100.0
30.5
RESEARCH
SERVICES
No.
I. is
i .56
0.02
5746
12
5.5
2.5
0. I
13
3.9
2.0
o.,
RES
TN
RANT
996
103.0
13
4
6
64.6
0.2
0.1
1
6. I
0.2
. .. ..
5300
254
996
,w.o
s
too.0
29.4
0.1
AUTO
DEAL
ER
0.
5.5
93.:
0.1
0.
1.3
SE9
“ICE
STN.
73
43
66
30
996
100.0
996
,Co.rJ
996
103.0
13
100.0
47
62.6
1.2
0.5
2
0.20
0.60
0.0,
0.22
0.56
0.01
AP,lIL
,997
0.34
0.76
0.01
0.01
0.,2
0.01
0.08
-
0.06
0.26
. ... .
5300
12
100.0
0.
6
ico.0
1
1.6
i
ii.9
14.2
5
66.6
0.1
0. i
0.i
ii
03.3
0.3
0. I
8
94.6
0.2
0. i
ii
04.6
0.3
0. I
i
0.
3.7
0. i
3.:
0. I
3.4
0.1
_
0.3,
0.66
0.0,
.. .. .
5300
Li
100.0
13.3
4
6.2
0.6
SUPER
MAR
KETS
. ... .
5300
67
6
il.0
0.2
0. I
CON
SUYER
OIST
. . .. .
5300
996
100.0
Ioo.0
NC
TION
0.01
o.i.4
_
_
0.0,
0.11
YElGHTEO
_
0.01
0.23
NUMBERS
0.01
0.00
ARE
REPORTED
IN
HUNDREO
THOUSANDS
U,S.P.S.
HOUSEHOLD
DIARY
TlBLE
116
F,RST-CLASS
MAIL
RECEIVED
0.
10 - “AS
A RETURN
ENVELOPE/CARD
(SASEO
TO FIRST-CLbSS
MAIL
ONLY)
STUDY
-
DIARY
-
FISCAL
YEAR
1996
WITH
ADJUSTMENT
FACTORS
(SEPT.
1.9.
TOTAL
FINAN
CllL
. . . . .
5300
UNVElGHTFO
HOUSEHOLDS
TOTAL
. . . . .
6300
UNYElGHTCC
PIECES
43983
is240
MAIL
RECEIVED
BANK
S6L
C.U.
. . . . .
5300
SECUR
IT”
BRKR
..I..
5300
4544
4.922
,449
ii3
3627
558
996
too.0
996
too.0
996
too.0
20
77S
too.0
129
too.0
446
icxxo
-
0
MONEY
LIKT.
. . ..I
5300
,NSUR
ANCE
co.
. . . . .
53cm
REAL
EST.
YORT
GAGE
I....
5300
CREO
IT
CAR0
. . . . .
5300
TOTAL
GOVT.
. . . . .
5300
FED
ERAL
. . ..I
5300
isaa
STATE
LOCAL
I....
5300
-
1.084
289
I
996
100.0
996
too.0
996
too.0
996
ico.lJ
996
too.0
YElGHTEO
PIECES
9262
,cFJ.cl
3336
too.0
899
100.0
to45
ica.0
339
loo.0
too.0
367 1
38.6
100.0
36.6
,464
43.0
41.0
15.8
602
60.3
22.6
6.6
208
to.9
5.0
2.2
00
23.7
2.2
0.9
320
41.2
9.0
3.4
40
3i.o
,.I
0.4
67
19.5
2.4
0.9
-
42.3
0.2
0.1
67
19.5
2.4
0.9
172
27.3
4.8
1.6
26
22.0
0.7
0.3
3946
42.5
100.0
42.6
i,O5
Fit.,
43.2
18.4
171
(7.1
4.3
I .,I3
774
74.i
19.6
6.3
236
69.3
6.0
2.5
ii
54.2
0.3
0.1
,I1
5L.o
to.4
4.4
83
64. I
2. I
0.9
327
73.2
6.3
3.6
-
325
73. I
6.2
3.5
392
62.4
9.9
..a
0,
69.6
2.1
0.9
.66
5.0
too.0
5.0
167
5.0
35.7
1.8
26
2.6
5.4
0.3
63
6.0
13.5
0.7
2,
7.0
s.1
0.3
6
4.9
1.4
0. i
33
7.4
7.1
0.4
-
3.:
0.1
33
7.4
7.0
0.4
NOT
KNOW/NO
,NOUSTRY
ANSWER
1296
14.0
tax0
14.0
NAIL
9.32
7.04
o.io
YE&N
ST0 DE”
ST0 ERROR
CHILTON
RESEARCH
SERYlCES
NO.
,996,
626
996
,oo.o
DON’T
,S,
TOTAL
YAW
FAC
TURE9
. . . . .
5300
TOTAL
SOCL.
CHAR.
I....
5300
ttGUSEHOLOS
NO
SEPT.
- INDUSTRY
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
VElGHTEO
“ES
-
ENCLOSED
FIRST-CLASS
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..I....................
(BASE)
199S
45
5.8
9.7
0.5
996
loo.0
996
too.0
996
too.0
996
too.0
445
loo.0
629
icm.0
ii7
100.0
6S
to. 3
13.9
0.7
IO
8.2
2.1
0. I
-
3.35
3.31
0.05
5746
1.00
1.36
0.02
1.05
,.43
0.02
APRIL
0.34
1.22
0.0,
1997
0.02
0.20
0.76
i.19
0.0,
0.12
0.46
0.0,
0.44
0.92
0.01
-
0.44
0.9,
0.0,
YE,GH,EO
0.64
1.24
0.01
NUMBERS
o.ii
0.42
0.01
ARE
REPORTED
IN
HUNDRED
THOUSANDS
CERTIFICATE
OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that I have this date served the foregoing document upon all
participants of record in this proceeding in accordance with section 12 of the Rules of
Practice.
i”iLf\ -) ~;4&
Michael T. Tidwell
475 L’Enfant Plaza West, SW.
Washington, D.C. 20260-I 145
October 1, 1997