"Generally that economic news translates into additional volume for us," Postal Service chief operating officer Patrick Donahoe said last week. "We're expecting a very successful season."

Donahoe said they have already seen a 1 percent increase in volume compared to the 2002 holiday season, and he expects that to go higher.

The 20 billion pieces of mail expected to flow through the Postal Service system this season include a 50 percent increase in cards and letters compared with the rest of the year. The heaviest mailing day should be Dec. 15, with 850 million to 900 million cards and letters going out. The busiest delivery day would follow two days later.

To put it into perspective: The Postal Service's average of 670 million pieces of mail a day would circle the globe three times, but Dec. 15 could add another lap around.

Air cargo capacity will be increased by nearly 40 percent two weeks before Christmas, and hundreds of trucks will be added.

Post offices will be open later in the evenings and on weekends, including Sundays, during December.

However, the Postal Service plans to hire only 10,000 temporary employees, half as many as last season.

United Parcel Service and FedEx are making similar preparations.

FedEx expects its average daily package volume to increase by around 20 percent and plans to hire several thousand people to help with the additional load. On its busiest day, Dec. 15, the company expects to handle around 7 million packages.

Among the 2.8 billion holiday stamps the Postal Service is printing this season are images of a horn-playing Santa on roller skates and reindeer in suspenders. Other stamps celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr, and all will be available at 82,000 locations nationwide, including 38,000 post offices.