by Judy Keen

USA Today

December 22, 2009

Are you receiving fewer holiday cards this year? Sarah Tompkins can explain.

"I'm not sending any," says Tompkins, 41, a Web designer in a Chicago suburb. "Do the math: the cost of the cards, then 44 cents for each stamp times 50 cards. That's an indulgence I just can't afford this year."

The U.S. Postal Service says there was an 11 percent decline in cancellations of first-class cards and letters from Dec. 1-13 - when most Americans mail holiday cards - compared to 2008.

The Postal Service expects to deliver 16.6 billion cards, letters and packages between Thanksgiving and Dec. 24, down from 19 billion last year, says spokesman Michael Woods.

Hallmark spokeswoman Deidre Mize says about 1.8 billion Christmas cards will be sent this year, down from 1.9 billion to 2 billion in recent years. The use of Hallmark e-cards sent via e-mail is dropping, she says.

"Sending a paper greeting card is a holiday tradition that's not going away," says American Greetings spokeswoman Meghan Olmstead. Still, trends reflect the times.

Suggesting that senders want to be upbeat in the tough economy, funny and inspirational cards are popular this year, says Troy Rivington, owner of Paper Doll, a Boulder, Colo., card shop.