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President Joe Biden apparently has a plan in the works to either reverse gas prices that have jumped an average of 13 cents in the last week. 

The president noted that gas prices have dropped by about $1 per gallon since the beginning of summer, “But the price of gas is still too high, and we need to keep working to bring it down. I’ll have more to say about that next week.”

He provided no specifics while talking to a group in Los Angeles about bipartisan infrastructure investments, but it’s possible further releases from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve could play a role. White House officials have offered no formal comment about what action the president is considering.

OPEC causing price spike

Gas prices have risen an average of 13 cents a gallon in the last week in the wake of OPEC’s announced plans to cut production between 500,000 and 2 million barrels daily in the weeks ahead. The move caused the price of crude oil to rise immediately.

Prices of gas in the U.S. are hovering around an average of $3.90 a gallon, according to AAA, on Friday. That’s a small improvement from the start of the week when the group reported the average was $3.91 a gallon.

Biden quickly responded to the OPEC announcement, criticizing the group and vowing “consequences” for the action, but not revealing what those consequences will be. He’s said since then he’s reviewing the options available without offering specifics about what could be done.

Senior Biden administration officials have suggested imposing export limits in an effort to shore up fuel stocks and bring relief to consumers, Bloomberg reported, adding the move could backfire, according to economists and energy experts, and lead to higher prices in New England and on the West Coast. 

OPEC’s impact

The national average is up 22.5 cents from a month ago and 67 cents per gallon higher than a year ago., according to GasBuddy.com. The national average price of diesel has risen 18 cents in the last week and stands at $5.04 per gallon.

“With OPEC+ deciding to cut oil production by two million barrels a day, we’ve seen oil prices surge 20%, which is the primary factor in the national average rising for the third straight week,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, in his blog earlier in the week. 

“Some of the refinery snags that have caused prices to surge in the West and Great Lakes appear to be improving, with prices in those two regions likely to inch down, even with OPEC’s decision, as the drop in wholesale prices has offset the rise due to the production cut. But where gas prices didn’t jump because of refinery issues, they will rise a total of 10-30 cents due to oil’s rise, and some areas are certainly seeing the jump already. For now, I don’t expect much improvement in prices for most of the country, with California and the Great Lakes as the exception, with downdrafts likely in the days and weeks ahead.”

Nearly all CEOs are readying for the U.S. economy to fall into a recession, according to a survey released Thursday by The Conference Board.

The survey, The Conference Board Measure of CEO Confidence, found that 98% of CEOs indicated they were preparing for a U.S. recession over the next year or year and a half. That figure is five percentage points higher than in the third-quarter survey.

Of those who anticipated a recession, 85% said they’re prepping for a “brief and shallow” one with “limited global spillover,” according to The Conference Board. About 13% said they are bracing for a “deep” U.S. recession “with material global spillover.”

PEOPLE’S VIEWS ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL FINANCES HAVE GROWN MORE NEGATIVE: POLL

“CEO confidence sunk further to start Q4 and is at its lowest level since the Great Recession,” Dana Peterson, The Conference Board’s chief economist, said in a statement. 

Roughly 81% of CEOs said economic conditions had gotten worse compared to six months ago, a 4% increase from the third quarter, according to The Conference Board. Nearly three-quarters were pessimistic about their expectations for the coming six months, with 74% saying they thought conditions would get worse.

US ECONOMY IS HEADED FOR RECESSION IN A FEW MONTHS, JPMORGAN’S JAMIE DIMON WARNS

U.S. economic growth, as measured by gross domestic product, fell in the first and second quarters of the year. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, recessions are technically defined by back-to-back quarters of negative economic growth and characterized by slowing retail sales, high unemployment, falling income and low or negative GDP growth. 

“However, despite expectations of slower growth, tight labor market conditions and wage pressures persist, while hiring plans remained robust,” Peterson noted.

The survey also found that a majority of CEOs are still grappling with inflation. About 59% of CEOs said input costs over the prior three months “remained about the same or increased” and they “do not anticipate easing” by year’s end, according to The Conference Board. 

Both consumer and wholesale inflation remained painfully high in September, FOX Business previously reported.

The consumer price index rose 0.4% from August and 8.2% from the prior year, the Labor Department said Thursday. 

Meanwhile, data released Wednesday showed the producer price index also rose, climbing 0.4% month-over-month and 8.5% year-over-year. 

According to the survey, 30% of CEOs also said their input costs have stayed the same or gone up but indicated they “expect to see easing by year end.” Conversely, just 3% said input costs have eased, enabling them to lower consumer prices.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS

The Conference Board surveyed more than 130 CEOs between Sept. 19 and Oct. 8.

Absentee ballots for November’s midterm election will be mailed to eligible Montana voters starting Friday, October 14. Preparing those ballots for distribution is a massive undertaking.

MTPR’s Edward O’Brien attended an election office open house in Missoula last week for a first-hand look at what it takes to get those ballots to your mailbox.

“I stamp the ballots and tear off the stubs and then pass them with an envelope to her. And she stuffs the envelope,” said Doris Walther.

Walther is one of 34 election assistants prepping nearly 60,000 mail-in ballots the postal service will deliver to eligible voters late this week.

“And we have been preparing about 20,000 ballots a day to go out in the mail,” said Missoula County Election Administrator Bradley Seaman.

“As we go through this process every ballot has to be stamped, official ballot stub removed and inserted in there and then they double check to make sure ‘Can you see it in the window?’ ‘Will it get to the voter?’” said Seaman.

It takes precision, teamwork, and plenty of oversight to prepare the ballot packets for mailing.

The 17 teams of two working at Missoula’s Election Center are not only assembling those packets, but checking and double checking each other’s work. An on-site coordinator oversees the entire operation. Cameras lining the room add yet another layer of security.

Election Assistant Jawayne Moody recommends anyone contemplating running for office, “Should spend some time going through the whole process in the election office just to see all the checks and balances and how it would be very difficult to interfere with the election results.”

Election officials in other states are increasingly concerned that groups hope to undermine election results by installing supporters as poll workers.

Missoula Election Administrator Bradley Seaman says multiple layers of election security measures in Montana drastically minimizes the chances something like that could happen here.

“Working in teams of three at a polling place help prevent those malicious actions. So we have to see an I.D., we have to track it in that poll book and work with that ballot judge. And then at the end of that polling place, we go through and confirm every ballot issued to the number of ballots on hand to make sure that matched. So simply the election law practices really prevent that malicious action from taking place.”

Election Assistant Doris Walther has helped with Missoula County elections since 2002. She has little patience for those who question local election integrity.

“I was in the Navy. I have a foul mouth. I talk like a sailor. I would just tell them they needn’t worry about that. We’re doing a good job. We’re conscientious about it,” said Walther

Election Administrator Bradley Seaman hopes public open houses like the one held this week in Missoula helps provide transparency and reassures the voting public.

The Montana Supreme Court last month meanwhile, reinstated a block on a state law eliminating same day voter registration.

Seaman urges those who plan on registering for the November 8 election to do so sooner than later. He says voters who register anytime between now and Election Day can expect that process to take about two minutes. That same process on election day itself could take upwards of two hours.

If you’re unsure about your voter registration status or local polling place, visit https://app.mt.gov/voterinfo/.

Have questions about voting in Montana? We’re here to help.

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Days after Omaha’s Alamo Drafthouse in Midtown announced it had closed, a local auctioneer posted photos of some of the movie theater’s items that will be up for sale.

The theater had its final days of screenings over the weekend, posting about the decision on its Facebook page late Sunday, saying the theater hadn’t been able to recover from the decline in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Wednesday evening, The Auction Mill posted a photo collage of everything from theater seats, a popcorn machine, and commercial kitchen equipment to old movie posters and even the Iron Giant himself. According to the post, the auction catalog will be available online in two weeks, with the auction closing Sunday, Nov. 20.

The Alamo Drafthouse is a chain of movie theaters that started in Texas before expanding to several cities, including Omaha; there is also a location in La Vista.

The Midtown location had previously been a Marcus Theatres location before Alamo refurbished and re-opened it in 2019.

The company filed for bankruptcy in March 2021.

Copyright 2022 WOWT. All rights reserved.

Another gameday, just another win for Cooper Rush, one of the coolest NFL stories this season as the undrafted free agent who came on in relief of Cowboys superstar Dak Prescott has improbably won four straight starts.

And another Victory Monday in Dallas means just another week of getting ready to do it again for No. 10.

Buy Cowboys Tickets

After initial reports seemed to suggest that the Cowboys’ $40 million man would be back under center much sooner than expected, everyone around the team now seems to be pumping the brakes somewhat. That’s partly because, under Rush’s management, the season isn’t exactly slipping away as many assumed it would be. But it’s also because there seems to be some debate about Prescott’s fractured hand and how far along he is in the healing process.

Prescott, unsurprisingly, is all optimism. During Sunday’s Week 5 game in Los Angeles, Fox sideline reporter Tom Rinaldi noted on-air that the two-time Pro Bowler greeted him with a strong handshake and asked pointedly, “How’s my grip feel?”

Prescott was seen on the sideline wearing a protective tape job on his right thumb, but he was also spotted doling out fist bumps.

That came just hours after NFL Network insiders Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport cited sources as saying that Prescott was “still regaining grip strength and would need to make significant strides to be ready” by the team’s Week 6 primetime showdown with Philadelphia.

“The biggest thing for Dak is just to make sure the ball’s coming off his hand the way he’s accustomed to it coming off his hand,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy told media members following Sunday’s 22-10 win over the Rams. “He’ll continue to work that way starting Monday.”

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said of Prescott, “He’ll throw a lot this week.”

Dak Prescott said tonight he’s gripping the football now and labels himself as “day-to-day” — looking to take the next step in practice in Week 6.

“Things are happening fast.” – Dak

Will he throw to WRs this week?

“I’ll push and start doing all of that.”

— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) October 10, 2022

The seven-year veteran had an X-ray planned for Monday and a doctor’s appointment scheduled for Tuesday, but Rapoport is calling Prescott “a long shot to play” versus the Eagles and added that he “still can’t grip a football.”

For the record, Prescott claims he can.

The quarterback’s handshake skills aside, those conflicting reports don’t paint the picture of a passer who’s a surefire lock to retake the controls of an NFL offense, especially considering that McCarthy continues to express a desire that Prescott get in a full week of practice before reclaiming his starting role.

“That’s what I’d like to see,” the coach said. “I think it’s a practical approach.”

But the reality is, there’s a lot less urgency in making a go/no-go decision on Prescott with the way the team has been playing in his absence.

Yes, the Cowboys are 4-1, but Rush hasn’t exactly set the league on fire. He’s tossed just four touchdowns this year and has yet to top 235 passing yards in a game. Heck, he only attempted 16 passes and barely cracked 100 yards against Los Angeles.

But that was entirely the point. The game plan from offensive coordinator Kellen Moore was to pound the ground attack and minimize the number of pass-rush opportunities for Rams defensive end Aaron Donald. The backup QB is doing exactly what he’s being asked to do.

And while he’s doing it, he’s making almost no mistakes whatsoever. Rush is the only quarterback in the league with over 25 attempts on the season (40 passers total) who hasn’t thrown an interception.

That’s not cause for a quarterback controversy in Dallas; the only people lobbying for Rush to keep starting over a healthy Prescott are attention-seeking hot-take artists and card-carrying Dak haters.

But until Prescott actually is FULLY healthy, Rush’s completely competent level of play is precisely the situation every club dreams of their backup putting them in.

“This is all you could possibly ask,” Jones explained Sunday. “It gives us great quarterbacking. Dak is going to get better this week; I have no idea whether he’ll lineup against Philadelphia or not.”

Include the man who’s actually on the bubble in that group, too.

“I have no idea,” Rush echoed to reporters from the podium Sunday evening in Los Angeles. “I think it’s kind of business as usual, how it’s been. I haven’t heard any updates; I don’t think we have any updates. Just a usual week: you go in every week thinking you’re going to play.”

And for at least one more week, it’s entirely possible Rush just might.

I, like most UC San Diego students, am pretty busy. Between homework, my job, extracurriculars, and now a commute to school, I feel like I barely have time to breathe. Something that has been particularly challenging for me is cooking. Since I have moved into my apartment, I have found that cooking takes a long time, not to mention the grocery store trips and washing dishes. It has gotten to the point where if I wanted to make a homemade meal, I would end up behind in everything else. 

This is why I decided to try out meal prepping. By this, I mean planning out what I am going to eat ahead of time and pre-preparing everything to the best of my ability. This could entail pre-cooking all your meals or simply chopping up the ingredients you already know you’re going to use. Though meal prepping has been in existence for quite a long time, I see it most on TikTok, where people recommend different food-prep meals to put in little containers for the rest of the week. I have been trying the same for a few weeks now and, while not an expert, I feel at least a little qualified to tell you all about it. 

Let’s start with the benefits of meal prep. The main thing that I have noticed is that the pre-made meal structure reduces your cooking time to ten minutes or less. There is also far less cleaning to be done afterwards. My grocery trips have also been faster, seeing that I know exactly what I am prepping and what I need to buy. This also allows me to plan to buy things that are on sale by looking on the website or grocery store ads. I have also discovered that planning ahead of time makes me less likely to buy impulsive purchases. 

Additionally, prepping my meals ahead of time has resulted in them being healthier and more balanced. When I plan my meals, I am able to make sure that I am including every group on the food pyramid. Before this I was just eating what I had available, which usually only had one or two different food groups. Having a more colorful and nutritious plate has been a great change of pace for me. 

However, there are definitely downsides to meal prep. Although I personally like the consistency, many people do not like eating the same meal several days in a row. I will admit that it is easy to get sick of even your favorite meals if you are having them every day. I have also found that it is hard to keep track of portion sizes because the truth is, you do not know how hungry you’ll be until right before you eat, possibly making the meal you have packed either too big or too small. You also might prepare too much food at the start of the week (or however far ahead you plan for) and it can go bad before you can eat it all. And finally, although cooking will be quicker most days, you usually have to set aside one to two hours every week to actually do the prepping. 

So, there it is. The real truth about meal prep. Personally, I enjoy it. It saves me time, money, and effort, and who am I to say no to that? However, I totally understand those of you who will say, “no thanks, I’ll try something else.” Meal prepping is not for everyone, and the sooner you find out what works for you, the better. 

That’s all for today. Have fun cooking!

Photo via Ella Olsson on Unsplash

WILLIAMSVILLE, Ill. (WAND) — Two undefeated teams clash in our WAND Matchup of the Week.

6-0 Williamsville is hosting 6-0 Maroa-Forsyth.

These two teams have won or shared the regular season conference title each year since 2016.

The Bullets defense hasn’t given up more than 14 points in a single game so far this season but Williamsville knows this Maroa-Forsyth offense is dangerous and can score in a hurry.

Copyright 2022. WANDTV. All Rights Reserved.

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} } } $(‘#video-slider-nexttitle’ + fullVideoId).css(‘display’, ‘none’); } }); var currVideoId = WVM[‘player_state’ + fullVideoId][‘VIDEO_ID’]; //console.log(“current Video ” + currVideoId); var nextVideoId = WVM.getNextPlaylistIndex(currVideoId); var myTitle = WVM.getPlaylistData(fullVideoId, nextVideoId, ‘noprefixtitle’); //console.log(“setting title ” + myTitle); $(‘#video-slider-nexttitle’ + fullVideoId).css(‘display’, ‘inline’); $(‘#video-slider-nexttitle’ + fullVideoId).html(myTitle); }; WVM.sendbeacon = function(action, nonInteraction, value, eventLabel) { var eventCategory = ‘Video’; if (window.ga) { //console.log(“sending action: ” + action + ” val: ” + value + ” label ” + eventLabel); ga(‘send’, ‘event’, { ‘eventCategory’: eventCategory, ‘eventAction’: action, ‘eventLabel’: eventLabel, ‘eventValue’: value, ‘nonInteraction’: nonInteraction }); } }; WVM.getNextPlaylistIndex = function(mediaId, returnArrayIndex){ var currId = null; if(mediaId == null){ return null; } for(var x =0; x 20){ if(fullDuration > 1 && ((fullDuration – fullCurrent) > 1) && !$(‘.vjs-loading-spinner’).hasClass(‘badspinner’)){ console.log(“hiding spinner”); $(‘.vjs-loading-spinner’).addClass(‘badspinner’); } } var duration_time = Math.floor(this.duration()); //this is a hack because the end video event is not firing… var current_time = Math.floor(this.currentTime()); if ( current_time > 0 && ( fullCurrent >= (fullDuration – 10) )){ var currId = playerState.VIDEO_ID; var newMediaId = WVM.getNextPlaylistIndex(currId); //if(playerSettings.autoplay_next && newMediaId){ if(newMediaId){ if(‘desktop’ == “iphone” && playerState.AD_ERROR){ console.log(“skipped timeupdate end”); }else{ WVM.load_video(newMediaId, true, playerState.ORIGINAL_ID); } } } if(!playerState.START_SENT){ WVM.sendbeacon(‘start’, true, playerState.VIDEO_ID, playerState.VIDEO_TITLE); playerState.START_SENT = true; } var currentTime, duration, percent, percentPlayed, _i; currentTime = Math.round(this.currentTime()); duration = Math.round(this.duration()); percentPlayed = Math.round(currentTime / duration * 100); for (percent = _i = 0; _i = percent && __indexOf.call(playerState[‘PERCENTS_TRACKED’], percent) 0) { playerState[‘PERCENTS_TRACKED’].push(percent); } } } }); //player.off(‘ended’); player.on(‘ended’, function(){ console.log(“ended”); playerState.IS_PLAYING = false; WVM.sendbeacon(“complete”, true, playerState.VIDEO_ID, playerState.VIDEO_TITLE); var currId = playerState.VIDEO_ID; var newMediaId = WVM.getNextPlaylistIndex(currId); //if(playerSettings.autoplay_next && newMediaId){ if(newMediaId){ WVM.load_video(newMediaId, true, playerState.ORIGINAL_ID); }else{ console.log(“Playlist complete (no more videos)”); } }); //player.off(‘adserror’); player.on(‘adserror’, function(e){ //$(‘#ima-ad-container’).remove(); WVM.lastAdRequest = new Date().getTime() / 1000; console.log(e); console.log(“ads error”); var errMessage = e[‘data’][‘AdError’][‘l’]; playerState.AD_IS_PLAYING = false; playerState.IS_PLAYING = false; // && errMessage == ‘The VAST response document is empty.’ if(!playerState.AD_ERROR){ var dTime = new Date().getTime(); WVM.firstPrerollTagUrl = WVM.getFirstPrerollUrl(); console.log(“calling backup ad tag url: ” + WVM.firstPrerollTagUrl); WVM.activePlayer.ima.changeAdTag(WVM.firstPrerollTagUrl + “?” + dTime); WVM.activePlayer.ima.requestAds(); //WVM.activePlayer.src({ // src: masterSrc, // type: ‘video/mp4’ //}); //WVM.firstPrerollTagUrl = “”; } playerState.AD_ERROR = true; }); //player.off(‘error’); player.on(‘error’, function(event) { if (player.error().code === 4) { player.error(null); // clear out the old error player.options().sources.shift(); // drop the highest precedence source console.log(“now doing src”); console.log(player.options().sources[0]); player.src(player.options().sources[0]); // retry return; } }); //player.off(‘volumechange’); player.on(‘volumechange’, function(event) { console.log(event); var theHeight = $(‘#media-container-‘ + playerState.ORIGINAL_ID + ‘ .vjs-volume-level’).css(‘height’); var cssVolume = 0; if(theHeight){ cssVolume = parseInt(theHeight.replace(‘%’, ”)); } var theVolume = player.volume(); if(theVolume > 0.0 || cssVolume > 0){ $(‘#media-container-‘ + playerState.ORIGINAL_ID + ‘ .mute-overlay’).css(‘display’, ‘none’); }else{ $(‘#media-container-‘ + playerState.ORIGINAL_ID + ‘ .mute-overlay’).css(‘display’, ‘block’); } }); WVM.reinitRawEvents(playerState.ORIGINAL_ID); setInterval(function(){ WVM.reinitRawEvents(playerState.ORIGINAL_ID); }, 2000); } if(!WVM.rawCompleteEvent){ WVM.rawCompleteEvent = function(e){ var playerState = WVM[‘player_state197482’]; }; } if(!WVM.rawTimeupdateEvent){ WVM.rawTimeupdateEvent = function(e){ var playerState = WVM[‘player_state197482’]; var rawVideoElem = document.getElementById(‘html5-video-‘ + playerState[‘ORIGINAL_ID’] + ‘_html5_api’); var fullCurrent = rawVideoElem.currentTime * 1000; var fullDuration = rawVideoElem.duration * 1000; var current_time = Math.floor(rawVideoElem.currentTime); console.log(“raw timeupdate: ” + fullCurrent + ” out of ” + fullDuration); if ( current_time > 0 && ( fullCurrent >= (fullDuration – 50) )){ var currId = playerState.VIDEO_ID; var newMediaId = WVM.getNextPlaylistIndex(currId); if(newMediaId){ console.log(“loading new video from rawtimeupdate”); WVM.load_video(newMediaId, true, playerState.ORIGINAL_ID); } } if(!$(‘.vjs-loading-spinner’).hasClass(‘badspinner’)){ $(‘.vjs-loading-spinner’).addClass(‘badspinner’) } }; } WVM.reinitRawEvents = function(playerId){ var playerState = WVM[‘player_state’ + playerId]; var rawVideoElem = document.getElementById(‘html5-video-‘ + WVM[‘player_state’ + playerId][‘ORIGINAL_ID’] + ‘_html5_api’); //COMPLETE EENT if( WVM[‘player_state’ + playerId].COMPLETE_EVENT){ rawVideoElem.removeEventListener(‘ended’, WVM.rawCompleteEvent, false); } rawVideoElem.addEventListener(‘ended’, WVM.rawCompleteEvent, false); //TIME UPDATE EVENT if( WVM[‘player_state’ + playerId].TIMEUPDATE_EVENT){ rawVideoElem.removeEventListener(‘ended’, WVM.rawTimeupdateEvent, false); } rawVideoElem.addEventListener(‘ended’, WVM.rawTimeupdateEvent, false); WVM[‘player_state’ + playerId].COMPLETE_EVENT = true; WVM[‘player_state’ + playerId].TIMEUPDATE_EVENT = true; };

GREEN BAY, Wis. (CBS 58) — Matt LaFleur didn’t want to give us his full thoughts on this condensed schedule — but said it’s like preparing for a Thursday game. His quarterback had a little fun at his expense with the adjusted schedules.

“Coaches are creatures of habit, even more than players. Anytime there’s a minute adjustment to the schedule. It throws them all out of whack,” said quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

The schedule is condensed no doubt. A lot of work to get done here before leaving Thursday.

But the team will practice Friday as well and while being focused on the task at hand — beating the Giants — hopefully get a chance to explore just a little bit.

“We’re all excited. I think the reason I said I want to go early is just to experience a little bit of that culture. Be able to get out, see some sites, interact with fans. Go to a pub, have Guinness or whatever the local brew is,” said Rodgers.

“I feel like Aaron has some good connections over there, so I’m going to try to use the wide receiver card. Tag along with him and do some activities,” said wide receiver Allen Lazard. “Being able to play in another country, travel across the world is something I’m pretty grateful for.”

“I’m excited to be a part of it, should be a cool new thing. After 16 years, you don’t get a ton of new experiences,” said kicker Mason Crosby. “This should be a fun one.”

“I trust our guys. I think they’ll make wise decisions,” said head coach Matt LaFleur. “I expect us to play at a high level on Sunday.”

Sleep was a topic as well — from his own international travel Rodgers says he has some tricks he’s sharing with teammates.

WASHINGTON — The holidays bring many things — gifts, family gatherings, decorating and festivities. For 2022, they also bring a few updates from the Postal Service for shipping deadlines and temporary pricing changes, as well as new package regulations.

2022 Holiday Shipping Deadlines

The Postal Service recommends the following mailing and shipping deadlines for expected delivery by Dec. 25 to domestic addresses and Air/Army Post Office/Fleet Post Office/Diplomatic Post Office (APO/FPO/DPO) addresses*:

• Nov. 5   — APO/FPO/DPO (all ZIP Codes) USPS Retail Ground service
• Dec. 9   — APO/FPO/DPO (all ZIP Codes) Priority Mail and First-Class Mail
• Dec. 16 — APO/FPO/DPO (except ZIP Code 093) USPS Priority Mail Express Military service
• Dec. 17 — USPS Retail Ground service
• Dec. 17 — First-Class Mail service (including greeting cards)
• Dec. 17 — First-Class packages (up to 15.99 ounces)
• Dec. 19 — Priority Mail service
• Dec. 23 — Priority Mail Express* service

Alaska

• Dec. 2   — Alaska to/from Continental U.S. — USPS Retail Ground
• Dec. 17 — Alaska to/from Continental U.S. — First-Class Mail and Priority Mail
• Dec. 21 — Alaska to/from Continental U.S. — Priority Mail Express

Hawaii

• Dec. 17 — Hawaii to/from mainland — First-Class Mail and Priority Mail
• Dec. 21 — Hawaii to/from mainland — Priority Mail Express

*Not a guarantee, unless otherwise noted. Dates are for estimated delivery before Dec. 25. Actual delivery date may vary depending on origin, destination, Post Office acceptance date and time, and other conditions. Some restrictions apply. For Priority Mail Express shipments mailed Dec. 22 through Dec. 25, the money-back guarantee applies only if the shipment was not delivered, or delivery was not attempted, within two business days.

New Seasonal Stamps

There are several new holiday and seasonal stamps available for your greeting cards and letters. They can be found online at the Postal Store or at any one of more than 34,000 Post Office locations. As a reminder, as of July 10, the cost of a First-Class Forever stamp increased to 60 cents from 58 cents.

New Hazardous Materials Shipping Restrictions

For safety reasons, effective June 6, packages containing hazardous materials —lithium-ion batteries, in particular — must now be mailed by surface transportation using Parcel Select Ground, USPS Retail Ground, Parcel Return Service or Ground Return Service.

The Postal Service issued the new requirements for shipping used electronics and other hazardous materials because items of this nature can cause fires and other dangers to mailers, air carriers, aircraft passengers and others.

Customers can find detailed information on common hazardous, restricted and perishable materials in the Postal Service’s Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail.

Temporary Pricing Adjustments

For the 2022 holiday season, the Postal Service has implemented temporary price adjustments. The changes are in place through Jan. 22, 2023, 12:01 a.m. Central time, for both retail and business customers.

The changes include some of the Postal Service’s more popular shipping products, which also includes military shipping: Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, First-Class Package Service, Parcel Select Ground and USPS Retail Ground. International products are unaffected.

These temporary rates will keep the Postal Service competitive and are similar to adjustments in past years to help cover extra handling costs to ensure a successful holiday season. More information can be found at usps.com.

The temporary adjustments are part of Delivering for America, the Postal Service’s 10-year plan for achieving financial sustainability and service excellence, which calls for appropriate pricing initiatives. Even with the temporary increase, the Postal Service has some of the lowest mail postage rates in the industrialized world and continues to offer great values in shipping.

More tips for a successful holiday mailing and shipping season:

• Use free Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes. They are available at local Post Office locations or online at usps.com/freeboxes.
• Make it easy with Click-N-Ship. You can create shipping labels and pay for postage online at usps.com/ship.
• Schedule a free Package Pickup when the carrier delivers your mail. It’s free regardless of the number of packages. Pickups can be scheduled at usps.com/pickup.*
• Mail and packages that weigh more than 10 ounces and/or are more than a half-inch thick using stamps as postage cannot be dropped into a collection box or left for a carrier to pick up. Instead, take them to a window clerk at a Post Office location.
• Packages containing used electronics or other hazardous materials — lithium-ion batteries, in particular — must now be shipped via surface transportation.

*Boxes are delivered within the U.S. with your regular mail, usually within 7 to 10 business days. Exclusions apply, for details and to order, visit the Postal Store.

Additional holiday news and information can be found at the Postal Service Holiday Newsroom: usps.com/holidaynews.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

###

More USPS holiday news, including shipping deadlines and information on the North Pole postmark, can be found at usps.com/holidaynews. For reporters interested in speaking with a regional Postal Service public relations professional, please go to about.usps.com/news/media-contacts/usps-local-media-contacts.pdf.

The Biden administration is preparing new export controls on semiconductors and the machines to make them, the latest push in its effort to deny China the ability to make the fastest, most cutting-edge circuitry possible, according to people familiar with the situation. 

The administration in recent weeks has already placed new restrictions on some U.S. exports of chips used for artificial-intelligence calculations and manufacturing equipment used to make some of the most powerful number-crunching chips.