USPS has raised their rates. Senders be advised.

Often times we forget the postal service has expenses also.
They have to pay for fuel, maintenance on the vehicles, and equipment. You might say well they have people to to fix the vehicles and equipment. Yes they do but they also have to pay for the parts to fix them ,they aren’t free and those prices get more expensive too. Also they may have to replace vehicles or equipment.

They probable have some specialty equipment that needs a factory repair person.

As far as it taking a long time to get from one place to another. They closed some of their sorting facilities.
Several years ago they closed the one here. So instead of being sorted here and on it’s way to the destination it goes a hundred plus mile then sorted before the next sorting spot.