U.S. Postal Service revenue rises in final quarter of 2014

Political campaign mailings and an increase in holiday package deliveries helped boost U.S. Postal Service revenue at the end of 2014, even as the agency posted a $754 million loss in the final three months of the year.

Still, Postmaster General Megan Brennan said that despite continuing losses, the outlook is much brighter than it has been in the past. The agency’s revenue rose 4.3 percent in the final quarter of the year.

Consumer borrowing climbs by $14.8 billion in December

Consumers increased their borrowing in December, with credit cards rising at the fastest pace in eight months. It could be a sign that consumer spending will accelerate as strong jobs gains give shoppers more confidence about taking on debt.

Consumer borrowing expanded by $14.8 billion in December, pushing consumer debt to a record $3.31 trillion, the Federal Reserve reported Friday. In November, borrowing had climbed by $13.5 billion.

The December rise included a $5.8 billion jump in the category that includes credit cards, marking the biggest gain since April. The result followed a $945 million drop in the category in November.

– From news service reports