United States Postal Service, Washington, gained $3 billion in net...

United States Postal Service, Washington, gained $3 billion in net income for the year ended Sept. 30, thanks to legislation passed earlier this year that prevented the postal service from overpaying its contribution to the Civil Service Retirement System. The postal service announced today that it recorded a total 2003 surplus of $3.9 billion, a gain that could help it maintain current postage rates through 2006. The $404 billion Civil Service plan for various groups of federal employees covers postal service workers hired before Jan. 1, 1984; $168 billion of plan assets will cover those employees, said Bill Tayman, manager of corporate financial planning.