REI Co-op is opening its first location in Maine, bringing quality outdoor gear and renowned expertise to the Greater Portland area in fall 2021. The approximately 24,400 square-foot store will be part of the new Rock Row development in Westbrook and will serve as a home base for the co-op's 47,000 lifetime members in Maine by inspiring and enabling a life outside for all. REI will offer top-quality gear for the activities that each season offers, ranging from paddling to cold weather gear. “A part of the New England community since we opened our first store in Massachusetts in 1987, we’re thrilled to expand our regional presence with our first store in Maine,” says Becky Smith, REI’s Northeast regional director. “We are especially excited to share a passion with the community for spending time outside year-round, from trekking through the snow to paddling along the coast.”

The Commission published its annual Financial Analysis report, which carefully analyzes the Postal Service’s finances using a number of well-known financial parameters. This report meets the Commission’s financial reporting responsibilities and responds to the continued interest from policymakers and stakeholders in the Postal Service’s financial health. The Analysis provides greater clarity, transparency, and accountability of the Postal Service’s financial data and trends. At the end of FY 2024: The Postal Service recorded a net loss from operations of $1.8 billion and a total net loss of $9.5 billion. The Postal Service’s operating revenue was $79.5 billion, $1.2 billion higher than the previous year. Revenue from Competitive products increased by $0.5 billion and Market Dominant revenue increased by $0.8 billion in FY 2024, resulting from price increases. Total operating expenses were $81.8 billion, $0.6 billion higher than the prior year. There was a notable decrease in highway transportation expenses, which decreased by 8.2 percent from network optimization efforts as a part of the Delivering for American plan. Furthermore, air transportation expenses decreased by 20.8 percent from a shift in package volume from air to highway transportation. The Postal Service is a labor intensive organization. Labor costs account for 76.4% of total expenses and in FY 2024 total personnel operating expenses increased by $1.4 billion from FY 2023, resulting from increases in salaries, retirement and employee health benefits.

The European print trade body Intergraf, which the BPIF is a member of, has called for an end to the ongoing strikes at UPM in Finland, which began at the start of the year and are due to continue until at least 12 March following another recent extension. The UPM strikes have greatly aggravated the current lack of paper on European markets and are threatening the supply of printed products. Intergraf said printers’ stocks will not last until the strike has been settled and warned that they will not be able to fulfil orders. It has estimated that, based on member associations feedback, from mid-February, there will be a 40% shortage in the paper needed by European printers. Meanwhile Finat, the European association for the self-adhesive label and narrow web packaging industry, has warned that if strikes continue and label production is not put back on track, there could be serious ramifications for the supply of food, beverages, and pharmaceuticals.