The DeKalb and Sycamore Post Offices will be reducing full service counter hours due to a decline in mail volume caused by the economic downturn, according to U.S. Postal Service’s (USPS) Oct. 23 and Nov. 10 press releases.

Hours for the DeKalb Post Office, 600 E. Lincoln Highway, will be effective Nov. 15. Changes for the Sycamore Post Office, 106 E. State St., will take effect Dec. 1.

“Like any retail business, the Postal Service regularly reviews operations and makes adjustments when necessary,” said Sycamore Postmaster Michele Evans in a Nov. 10 press release. “The decline in mail volume driven by the downturn in the overall economy has impacted customer traffic in our retail lobby resulting in a change in hours.”

Despite previous cost-cutting measures, the USPS ended its second quarter with a net loss of $707 million, according to a May 7 USPS financial report.

One cost-cutting measure made by the USPS included cutting work hours by more than 18 million in the first two quarters of the year, the financial report stated.

The report attributed the decline to the economic downturn, but the decline could also be due to other factors.

“When combined with diversion of hard copy messages to the Internet and growing environmental concerns about mail’s impact, mail volume is down by some 9 billion pieces in 2008,” said Tim Ratliff, USPS spokesman.

Even with the upcoming holiday season and online purchases expected to increase, Ratliff said the holiday increase in mail volume isn’t expected to be as high as previous years.

Key USPS drivers that have struggled in recent months are financial, credit and housing sectors, according to a March 5 statement by John Potter, USPS Postmaster General and CEO to a subcommittee at the U.S. Senate.

Sharon Myers, USPS officer in charge, stated in the Oct. 23 press release that consumers can still purchase most mailing shipping products and services without making a trip to the post office.

DeKalb residents can purchase stamps at most grocery stores and by phone at 1-800-STAMP-24.