2 minute read
Business Services
by 55 North
Post Office delivers ‘resilient performance’
Data shows network availability at its highest level since before the pandemic, with 11,596 branches trading in December.
Post Office has reported a “resilient performance” in its latest trading statement. The Post Office reveals there were 50.5 million customer transactions during the four-week period to 26 December 2021, down just 1.7% on the same period in 2019, before the pandemic, and down only 1.5% on 2020.
Total network income for the fourweek period increased by 15%, compared with the same period in 2019, to £73.8m.
However, it fell 5% when compared with the “exceptional” 2020 period.
The data shows network availability was as its highest level since before the pandemic, with 11,596 branches trading in December.
It also revealss that 3,100 branches offered click-and-collect services for DPD and Amazon for the first time and around 70% of parcels were collected within one day of arriving at a branch.
Meanwhile, mails and parcels overall volumes were up versus the same period in 2019, reflecting broader trends in e-commerce growth. Drop & Go, the Post Office’s fast-track service, continued to support businesses and online sellers sending parcels with sales value increasing by 60% compared with 2019.
The update shows cash and banking services “excelled” as small and independent businesses relied on their local branches to deposit cash takings. Post Office Travel Money saw a 100% increase in like for like sales compared with the same period in 2020 when greater travel restrictions were in place. Euros were the most popular currency accounting for around 65% of weekly sales over the period. After US Dollars, the most popular currency sales were UAE Dirham and the Australian Dollar.
In addition, Post Office Travel Insurance saw a 445% increase in sales of its products compared with the same period last year and were up 13% on 2019.
Post Office Chief Executive, Nick Read, said: “It’s a testament to the determination and hard work of postmasters that so many branches remained open, providing essential services to their community, with well over 11,500 branches trading.”
