(Direct) Rising gas prices will serve as a spurious justification for a postal rate hike in the “high single digits,” (between seven and nine percent, for instance), according to John A. Greco Jr., the DMA’s president and CEO.

It’s a nice cover story, but it’s only part of the reason, at best, Greco continued. When the new recommendations come out, in the next week or two, labor costs and the question of whether the Postal Service will have to cover the military pensions of its workers will have a greater impact on the organization’s fortunes.

Of course, all this is moot if proposed do-not-mail lists are enacted. During a keynote address, Greco noted that while several localities have pitched creating mail opt-out lists, “none have extraordinary legs,” that could realistically result in their being enacted. more from Direct