Looking for a way to boost sales from its online store, Encyclopaedia Britannica was one of five companies that tested a new feature from Silverpop, which enabled them to target e-mails to the day and time the intended recipient is likely to be perusing their inbox.

Postage rate increases, such as the one that took effect today, can and should be avoided if Congress would rescind some of the "onerous financial shackles imposed" on the US Postal Service, according to the head of the national letter carriers union. The price of a first-class stamp rose 2 cents today, to 44 cents, the third straight annual increase.

The US Postal Service will market test a new competitive, less-than-truckload shipping service known as Collaborative Logistics. The Postal Regulatory Commission signed off on the USPS proposal, which gives the postal agency two years to conduct the market test.

Debit cards are trumping credit cards in light of the recession, while more than a fifth of Americans (22%) are leaving both in the wallet, according to a new consumer survey from market research firm Mintel Comperemedia. Nearly half (43%) of those surveyed say they are relying more on their debit cards and using credit cards less because of the recession.

In a letter to a key House subcommittee chairman, US Postmaster General John Potter again pressed his case for Congressional action on proposed legislation that would reduce the agency's out-of-pocket costs for retiree health benefits, which could save the US Postal Service $2 billion this year.

Citing the ongoing recession and an "unprecedented" drop in mail volume, the US Postal Service today announced a $1.9 billion loss for the second quarter and said it likely expects to end the fiscal year September 30 with a projected deficit of more than $1.5 billion. Mail volume for the second quarter, which ended March 31, totaled 43.8 billion pieces, a drop of 7.5 billion pieces, or 14.7% compared to a year ago, the USPS said in a release.

Kristi VandenBosch has been named CEO, Publicis & Hal Riney in San Francisco, Publicis USA announced today. VandenBosch, former president of Tequila\North America, will lead the agency in partnership with Roger Camp, chief creative officer in San Francisco, according to a release.

Nationwide Insurance has named Durham, NC-based McKinney as its new advertising agency of record. McKinney replaces TM, which had been the Columbus, OH-based insurer's AOR since 1998.

UPS has been named the official supplier of The Open Championship, in a four-year agreement that expands its sponsorship role in international golf tournaments. UPS also has signed agreements with British golf champion Lee Westwood and rising golfer Pablo Larrazábal of Spain to represent the company as global brand ambassadors.