Want to make sure your holiday cards and gifts arrive in time for Christmas? Save these dates.
The United States Postal Service said cards and packages need to be mailed no later than these dates for an expected delivery by Dec. 25:
Dec. 4: Air/Army Post Office/Fleet Post Office/Diplomatic Post Office (ZIP Code 093 only) Priority Mail and First-Class Mail
Dec. 11: APO/FPO/DPO (all other ZIP Codes) Priority Mail and First-Class Mail
Dec. 14: USPS Retail Ground
Dec. 18: APO/FPO/DPO (except ZIP Code 093) USPS Priority Mail Express
Dec. 20: First-Class Mail (including greeting cards)
Local
Dec. 20: First-Class packages (up to 15.99 ounces)
Dec. 20: Hawaii to mainland Priority Mail and First-Class Mail
Dec. 20: Priority Mail
Dec. 20: Alaska to mainland Priority Mail and First-Class Mail
Dec. 22: Alaska to mainland Priority Mail Express
Dec. 22: Hawaii to mainland Priority Mail Express
Dec. 22: Priority Mail Express
Three Chicago post offices offer Sunday hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. at Cardiss Collins, 433 W. Harrison St.; 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Graceland Postal Store, 3024 N. Ashland Ave.; and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Ft. Dearborn Station, 540 N. Dearborn St.
"Customer mailing and shipping traffic is expected to increase beginning Dec. 10, and the Postal Service expects to deliver nearly 200 million packages per week during these two weeks," USPS spokesman Tim Norman said in a statement.
The week of Dec. 17-23 is expected to be the busiest, Norman said.
