The Postal Service released its third quarter 10Q financial report and the main results made headline news: a net loss of $2.4 billion in the quarter. Since enactment of the postal law in 2006, the Postal Service does not have to release revenue or volume data about products within its competitive products line, called Shipping Services. International bulk mail products fall under Shipping Services. However, the USPS says in its 10Q report that Shipping Services revenue, as a whole, decreased $82 million or 4.1% in the third quarter, compared to the same period last year. Volume declined 58 million pieces or 15.1%. Year-to date, Shipping Services revenue decreased $247 million or 3.8% compared to the same period last year. Volume decreased 169 million pieces or 13.7% for the nine months ended June 30, 2009, compared to the same period a year ago. All subgroups within Shipping Services experienced volume declines with the exception of Parcel Return Service Mail. One sliver of good news, however, is that international air transportation expenses decreased $51 million compared to the third quarter of 2008, mainly due to settlements of foreign postal transactions, the USPS said. For the nine months ended June 30, 2009, international air decreased $95 million, which included a $57 million decrease in foreign postal transactions fees compared to the same period last year. You can find the entire 10Q report on www.usps.com/financials/.