Group 1 - President Trump's executive order designates December 26, 2025, as a federal holiday for executive branch departments and agencies, creating a five-day holiday for many federal employees [2] - The executive order does not apply to private-sector businesses, state and local governments, or independent federal entities like the US Postal Service [2] - The US stock markets, including the NYSE and Nasdaq, are open and operating on a normal trading schedule on December 26 [3] Group 2 - Most banks, including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Citibank, are open on December 26, providing standard banking services [4] - The Federal Reserve does not observe December 26 as a holiday, ensuring the core banking system functions normally [4] - The US Postal Service is operating normally on December 26, as the federal executive order does not apply to it [6] Group 3 - Private carriers such as FedEx and UPS are back to normal operations, with standard pickup and delivery services running [7] - Federal executive branch offices and some federal buildings may be closed or have limited operations on December 26 [8]

The US Postal Service needs major financial reforms to keep your mail on time (via @opinion) https://t.co/IHdRVgKADr ...

Core Points - An Italian logistics subsidiary of Amazon has settled an investigation into tax fraud and unlawful labor practices by paying €180 million ($210 million) and shutting down a monitoring system for delivery workers [1][2] - The investigation, led by Milan prosecutors, revealed that the subsidiary allegedly bypassed labor and tax obligations by using cooperatives and limited liability companies to provide drivers, which reduced value-added tax liabilities and social security contributions [2][3] - The total recoveries from similar investigations into outsourcing models and workforce management across various companies have exceeded €1 billion since 2023 [2] Company Actions - Amazon has clarified its position with relevant authorities, stating that its collaboration model with delivery partners meets high standards, and has improved compliance across the industry [3] - The company is planning to expand its own national delivery operations and potentially reduce reliance on the US Postal Service due to stalled negotiations over a new shipping agreement [4][5] - Amazon sought a new deal with USPS to secure more favorable rates and establish higher minimum parcel volumes [5]

Core Insights - Amazon Shipping will implement peak season surcharges from October 26, 2025, to January 17, 2026, with the highest fees occurring from November 23 to December 27, 2025 [4][8] - The surcharges include a per-package demand surcharge and additional fees for large, heavy, or special handling parcels, with increases compared to 2024 fees [8] - Amazon's logistics arm experienced a 7.3% year-over-year volume increase in 2024, surpassing competitors like the U.S. Postal Service, UPS, and FedEx [6] Fee Structure - The fee structure for the 2025 holiday season includes: - $0.40 per package surcharge from October 26 to November 22 - $0.60 per package surcharge from November 23 to December 27 - $0.40 per package surcharge from December 28 to January 17, 2026 - Additional handling fees ranging from $8.25 to $10.80 depending on the period - Large package fees ranging from $90 to $107 depending on the period - Extra heavy package fees ranging from $485 to $540 depending on the period [3][4][8] Market Dynamics - Amazon Shipping is attracting more shippers, including companies like BarkBox and KiwiCo, who report faster delivery times and more economical rates after switching from other carriers [5] - There is a growing trend among shippers to seek alternative carriers due to rising parcel shipping rates, with other carriers collectively increasing their volumes by 22.6% [6]

Several Countries Suspend Postal Shipments To The US—Here’s Whyhttps://t.co/Cz0R2Z91eG https://t.co/b2TSBmzO9e ...

Postal Realty Trust is a unique real estate empire grounded on a simple proposition: The US Postal Service will always deliver. But the mail carrier has never been under more pressure https://t.co/ybeSpQ5ngJ ...